OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Abstract: Objective　To collect and organize malaria case data in Hubei Province from 2017 to 2021, compare and analyze the malaria epidemic characteristics on the before and after malaria elimination, and provide scientific support for Hubei Province to further optimize the comprehensive strategies to prevent re-transmission after the elimination of malaria. Methods The study was conducted by collecting the data of reported malaria cases of Hubei during 2017-2021 from the Infectious Disease Surveillance Reporting and Management System, and conducting the epidemiological characteristics of malaria on pre-elimination (2017-2019) and post-elimination (2020-2021). Results A total of 429 cases of imported malaria were reported in Hubei Province from 2017 to 2021, and the malaria epidemic showed an obvious trend of rising first and then falling. On the pre-malaria elimination, 374 malaria cases were reported, including 262 cases of P.falciparum (70.05%); on the post-malaria elimination, 55 malaria cases were reported, including 25 cases of P.falciparum (45.45%). There was a statistically significant difference in the proportion of infections caused by the four types of malaria parasites before and after the elimination of malaria (χ2=14.248, P<0.05). On the pre-malaria elimination, the peak of disease onset mainly occurred in January, July, and November; on the post-malaria elimination, the peak of disease onset mainly occurred in January to February, and December. Both before and after malaria elimination, the reported cases were mainly concentrated in Wuhan, Yichang, Huangshi, Xiangyang, Shiyan and Huanggang, but the range of cases showed a clear trend of narrowing. Before and after malaria elimination, malaria cases in Hubei Province were mainly among young and middle-aged males aged 30-49. The proportions of workers and migrant workers increased from 37.70% and 9.09% before the elimination to 50.91% and 18.18% after the elimination, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (χ2=17.839, P<0.05). The percentage of interval from onset of illness to initial diagnosis ≥ 5d decreased from 21.66% before the elimination to 10.91% after the elimination (χ2=6.448, P<0.05). The percentage of definitive diagnosis of malaria at initial diagnosis in town clinic increased from 18.18% before the elimination to 50.00% after the elimination. The proportion of malaria cases diagnosed by county-level medical institutions increased from 22.73% before the elimination to 34.55% after elimination. There was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of malaria cases diagnosed by medical institutions at all levels before and after the elimination of malaria (χ2=5.630, P>0.05). The proportion of cases with the interval between initial diagnosis and diagnosis within 24h increased from 43.85% before the elimination to 70.91% after the elimination. There was a statistically significant difference in the proportion of cases with the interval between initial diagnosis and diagnosis before and after the elimination of malaria (χ2=14.006, P<0.05). Before and after malaria elimination, all reported cases were mainly imported from African countries. Conclusions There are imported malaria cases reported every year in Hubei Province before and after the elimination of malaria, which poses a great challenge to the prevention of re-transmission. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the surveillance system, detect and standardize the treatment of imported malaria cases in a timely manner, conduct targeted retransmission risk surveys and assessments, and consolidate the achievements of malaria elimination.

Humans ; Huntington Disease/diagnostic imaging* ; Brain/diagnostic imaging* ; Brain Mapping ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Objective:To investigate the long term outcome of artificial urinary sphincter implantation for patients with stress urinary incontinence.Methods:The data of 46 patients who underwent artificial urethral sphincter implantation in China Rehabilitation Research Center from April 2002 to April 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.The patients’ age ranged from 19-80 years old (median 45.6 years). There were 45 males and 1 female. The history of illness was 8 months to 33 years. The patients category were urethral injuries associated urinary incontinence ( n=24), neurogenic urinary incontinence ( n=9) and post-prostatectomy incontinence ( n=13). Preoperative daily pad usage was 3.5±1.0. The impact of incontinence on the quality of life (QOL)measured by the visual analogue scale (VAS)was 7.1±1.2. All 46 patients underwent artificial urethral sphincter implantation, of which 20 patients were treated with anticholinergic drugs (5 cases) or urinary tract related surgery (urethral stenosis incision in 2 cases, sphincterectomy in 3 cases, urethral dilation in 5 cases, urethral calculus lithotripsy in 1 case, and augmentation cystoplasty in 4 cases) before artificial urethral sphincter implantation. Of the 45 male patients, 25 patients had the transperineal approach and 20 had the trans-scrotal approach. The female case had a trans-retropubic approach. Different cuffs size was used based on individual circumference of bulbar urethra (45 male cases: 4.5cm in 16 cases, 4.0cm in 29 cases; one female case: 8.0cm). Long-term surgical efficacy was evaluated. Assessments included postoperative urinary continence (socially continent: one pad per day or less; complete dry: wearing no pads), artificial urinary sphincter status and complications. The influences of patients of different etiologies, surgical approaches and cuff size on surgical results were compared. Results:The mean follow-up time was 7.1 years ranged from 6 months to 19 years. At the latest visit, 32 patients (69.6%) maintained the primary functional artificial urinary sphincter. Three patients (6.5%) had artificial urinary sphincter revisions and maintained continence with the new device. 11 patients (23.9%) removed the artificial urinary sphincter because of post-complications. Thirty-five patients were socially continent, of which 16 patients were totally dry, leading to the overall social continent rate as 76.1%(35/46). There was a significant reduction in pad usage to 1.2±0.6 diapers per day ( P<0.001). The impact of incontinence on the QOL measured by the VAS dropped to 2.6±1.9 ( P<0.001). The complication rate was 32.6%(15/46), including infections ( n=4), erosions ( n=5), mechanical failure ( n=3), dysurie ( n=2) and urethral atrophy ( n=1). There were no significant differences in social continent rate between patients with different etiologies[75.0%(18/24)vs. 66.7%(6/9) vs. 84.6%(11/13)], perioperative complications [37.5%(9/24)vs. 33.3%(3/9) vs. 23.1%(3/13)] and device re-intervention rate[37.5%(9/24) vs. 33.3%(3/9)vs. 15.4%(2/13)]. There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative complete dry rate [32%(8/25)vs. 40%(8/20), P=0.76] and postoperative device failure free rate [60%(15/25)vs. 80%(16/20), P=0.20] between trans-perineal group and trans-scrotal group. There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative social continent rate between 4.5cm cuff and 4.0 cuff[75%(12/16) vs. 65.5%(19/29), P=0.74]. Conclusions:Artificial urethral sphincter implantation is an effective treatment for stress urinary incontinence due to intrinsic sphincter deficiency. There was no difference in the continent rate and complication rate between patients of different etiologies, different surgical approaches and cuff size selection.

Drug problem is a major social and public security problem in the world. Drug abuse poses a great threat to economic development, social stability and public health. In recent years, synthetic drugs represented by methamphetamine have surpassed traditional drugs such as morphine, heroin, ketamine and become one of the most abused drugs in the world. In order to solve the problem of drug abuse, it is of great theoretical value and practical significance to carry out all-round and multi-level scientific research on drug-related issues. Based on the current situation of drug abuse, this article reviews research progresses on the epidemiology of methamphetamine abuse, the monitoring technology, the basic researches on toxicity damage, the withdrawal drug screening, the related clinical comorbidity and the testing technologies, comprehensively presenting the development trend of methamphetamine abuse related issues.
Amphetamine-Related Disorders/epidemiology* ; Heroin ; Humans ; Illicit Drugs ; Methamphetamine/adverse effects* ; Substance Abuse Detection

Objective:To assess the efficacy and safety of 100 units of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) intradetrusor injection in patients with overactive bladder.Methods:From April 2016 to December 2018, 17 tertiary hospitals were selected to participate in this prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Two phases of study were conducted: the primary phase and the extended phase. This study enrolled patients aged 18 to 75 years who had been inadequately managed by anticholinergic therapy (insufficient efficacy or intolerable side effects) and had spontaneous voiding with overactive bladder. Exclusion criteria included patients with severe cardiac, renal and hepatic disorders, patients with previous botulinum toxin treatment for 6 months or allergic to BTX-A, patients with urinary tract infections, patients with urinary stones, urinary tract tumors, diabetes mellitus, and bleeding tendency. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to BTX-A group and placebo control group in a ratio of 2∶1. Two groups of patients received 20 intradetrusor injections of BTX-A 100U or placebo at the depth of the submucosal muscle layer respectively under cystoscope, including 5 injections at the base of the bladder, 3 injections to the bladder triangle, 5 injections each to the left and right walls and 2 injections to the top, sparing the bladder neck. As a placebo control group, patients received same volume of placebo containing no BTX-A and only adjuvant freeze-dried preparations for injection with the same method. A combination of gelatin, sucrose, and dextran served as adjuvants. Average micturition times per 24 hours, urinary incontinence (UI) episodes per day, average micturition volume per day, OAB symptom score(OABSS), and quality of life (QOL) score were recorded at baseline and the 2nd, 6th and 12th week after treatment. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change from baseline in the average micturition times per 24 hours at the 6th week after treatment. The secondary efficacy endpoints included the change from baseline in the average micturition times per 24 hours at 2nd and 12th week, as well as the change from baseline in the OABSS, QOL score, average frequency of urgency and UI episodes per day, urgency score, average micturition volume per day at 2nd, 6th and 12th week after treatment. Patients were followed for 12 weeks to assess adverse events (AEs). After assessed at week 12, if the micturition times has decreased less than 50% compared to baseline and the patient is willing to receive retreatment, then patients could enter the extended trial phase. In that phase, patients in both groups were injected with 100 units BTX-A from 12th week onwards and then followed up the same indicators for 12 weeks.Results:216 patients were enrolled in this trial (144 cases in the BTX-A group and 72 cases in the placebo control group). Baseline characteristics such as age (47.75±14.20 in the BTX-A group and 46.39±15.55 in the control group), sex (25 male/117 female in the BTX-A group and 10/61 in the control group), and disease duration (0.51 years in the BTX-A group and 0.60 years in the control group) were balanced between the two groups( P>0.05). A marked reduction from baseline in average micturition times per 24 hours was observed in all treatment groups at the 6th week and the reduction of the two groups was statistically different ( P<0.001 and P=0.008 respectively). Compared with the baseline, the average micturition times per 24 hours at the 6th week decreased from baseline by 2.40(0.70, 4.60)times for the BTX-A group and 0.70(-1.00, 3.30) times for the placebo control group respectively, and the difference between the two groups was considered to be statistically significant ( P=0.003). The change rates of average micturition times per 24 hours from baseline at the 6th week of the two groups were (16±22)% and (8±25)% respectively, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P=0.014). Compared with the baseline, the average micturition times per 24 hours at 2nd and 12th week decreased by 2.00(0.00, 4.00)and 3.30(0.60, 5.03)for the BTX-A group, 1.00(-1.00, 3.00)and 1.70(-1.45, 3.85)for the placebo control group respectively. The difference between two groups was considered to be statistically significant ( P=0.038 and P=0.012); the changes of average urgency times per day for the BTX-A group and the control group at the 2nd, 6th and 12th week were 2.00(0.00, 4.30)and 2.40(0.30, 5.00), 3.00(0.30, 5.70)and 0.70(-1.30, 2.70), 0.70(-1.30, 3.00) and 1.35(-1.15, 3.50), respectively. There were significant differences between two groups at the 2nd, 6th and 12th week, ( P=0.010, P=0.003 and P=0.025, respectively). The OABSS of the BTX-A group and the control group at the 6th week decreased by 1.00(0.00, 4.00)and 0.50(-1.00, 2.00) compared with the baseline, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P=0.003). 47 cases of BTX-A group and 34 cases of placebo control group entered the extended trial phase, and 40 and 28 cases completed the extended trial phase, respectively. The average micturition volume per 24 hours changed by -16.60(-41.60, -0.60)ml and -6.40(-22.40, 13.30)ml, (-35.67±54.41)ml and(-1.76±48.69)ml, (-36.14±41.51)ml and (-9.28±44.59)ml, (-35.85±43.35)ml and(-10.41±40.29)ml for two groups at the 12th, 14th, 18th and 24th week, and the difference between two groups was statistically significant at each follow-up time ( P=0.01, 0.006, 0.012 and 0.016, respectively). There was no significant difference in other parameters( P>0.05). However, adverse reactions after intradetrusor injection included increased residual urine volume (27 in the BTX-A group and 3 in the control group), dysuria (21 in the BTX-A group and 6 in the control group), urinary infection (19 in the BTX-A group and 6 in the control group), bladder neck obstruction (3 in the BTX-A group and 0 in the control group), hematuria (3 in the BTX-A group and 1 in the control group), elevated alanine aminotransferase (3 in the BTX-A group and 0 in the control group), etc. During the follow-up period, there was no significant difference in the other adverse events between two groups except the increase of residual urine volume( P<0.05). In the primary trial phase, among the 27 cases with increased residual urine volume in BTA group, only 1 case (3.70%) with PVR more than 300 ml; the PVR of 3 patients in the placebo group was less than 100 ml. The increase of residual urine volume caused by the injection could be improved or disappeared with the passage of time. Conclusions:Intradetrusor injection of Chinese BTX-A improved the average micturition times per 24 hours, the average daily urgent micturition times, OABSS, and average micturition volume per time, and reduced the adverse effects in patients with overactive bladder.Chinese BTX-A at dose of 100U demonstrated durable efficacy and safety in the management of overactive bladder.

Objective To investigate the dynamic expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) and explore their roles in the progression of hepatic fibrosis induced by Schistosoma japonicum infection. Methods Fifty female mice of the ICR strain were randomly divided into the infection group and the normal control group, of 25 mice in each group. Each mouse in the infection group was infected with 20 ± 1 cercariae of S. japonicum via the abdominal skin, while uninfected animals served as normal control. Five mice were sacrificed 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks post-infection and liver tissues were sampled. Serum HSP47 and TGF-β1 was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the pathological changes of liver specimens were observed with hematoxylin & eosin (HE) staining. In addition, the synthesis of alpha 1 chain of type I collagen (COL1A1) was measured using Masson staining, and the mRNA expression of TGF-β1, HSP47 and COL1A1 was determined using real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay. Results During the period of S. japonicum-induced hepatic fibrosis, the serum HSP47 and TGF-β1 levels and the mRNA expression of TGF - β1, HSP47 and COL1A1 gradually increased with the progression of hepatic fibrosis. The serum levels of HSP47 and TGF-β1 were (179.26 ± 29.87) pg/mL and (22.37 ± 5.21) ng/mL 6 weeks post-infection, respectively, which were significantly greater than those [(150.29 ± 34.91) pg/mL and (18.54 ± 7.78) ng/mL, respectively] in the normal control group (both P values < 0.05). In addition, the mRNA expression of HSP47, COL1A1 and TGF-β1 was (0.86 ± 0.04), (1.17 ± 0.06) and (0.64 ± 0.13) in mouse liver specimens, which was significantly higher than that (0.23 ± 0.03, 0.20 ± 0.02 and 0.38 ± 0.02) in the normal control group (all P values < 0.01). Conclusions The expression of TGF-β1 and HSP47 during the period of S. japonicum-induced hepatic fibrosis is consistent with the progression of the hepatic fibrosis, and exhibits the same tendency with type I collagen expression. HSP47 is a novel promising diagnosis marker and therapeutic target for S. japonicum-induced hepatic fibrosis.

Objective:To compare the effects of spinal orthosis and exercise training on psychological status and quality of life in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Methods:From July, 2017 to Febrary, 2018, 55 AIS patients aged ten to 16 years were enrolled. According to the individual's choice, they were divided into exercise group (n = 25) and orthosis group (n = 30). The Cobb's angle, apex vertebral rotation (AVR), trunk shift (TS) and apex vertebral translocation (AVT) were measured before, three months and six months after intervention. They were also evaluated with Scoliosis Research Society Patient Questionnaire-22 (SRS-22) before and six months after intervention. Results:Six months after intervention, the scores of function/activity level, pain, self-image/appearance and treatment satisfaction were better in the exercise group than in the orthosis group (t > 2.137, P < 0.05). Three months and six months after intervention, the Cobb's angles reduced significantly in both groups (t > 4.461, P < 0.001); six months after intervention, the Cobb's angle was smaller in the orthosis group than in the exercise group (t = 2.548, P < 0.05). Three months and six months after intervention, TS, AVR and AVT improved in both groups (t > 2.338, P < 0.05); six months after intervention, they were better in the orthosis group than in the exercise group (t > 2.259, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Single exercise training is effective on AIS patients with Cobb's angle between 25° to 40°, especially for psychological status and the quality of life, however, it isn't as better as orthotics treatment for deformity correction.

An ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of 11 kinds of aminoglycosides (AGs), including paromomycin, spectinomycin, tobramycin, gentamycin, kanamycin, hygromycin B, apramycin, streptomycin, dihydrostreptomycin,amikacin and neomycin in aquatic products. Samples were extracted by phosphate buffer solution, and purified on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) solid phase extraction column. After separated by Obelisc R chromatographic column, AGs were detected by UPLC-MS/MS. It showed a good linearity relationship in the AGs concentration range of 1.0-1000 ng/mL with the correlation coefficient R2>0.994. The limit of detection (LOD,S/N≥3) was ranged from 1.0 μg/kg to 10.0 μg/kg,and the limit of quantitation (LOQ,S/N≥10) was ranged from 2.0 μg/kg to 20.0 μg/kg. Besides, the average recoveries presented 78.4%-109.6% with the relative standard deviation (RSD, n=6) of 2.3%-14.9%. This method was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of 11 kinds of AGs with high sensitivity in aquatic products.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of~(56)Fe~(17+)heavy ion on the expression of phosphorylated histone H2AX( γH2AX) of human lymphccytes. METHODS: The Epstein-Barr virus transformed human B lymphocyte cell lines( PengEBV) were selected and exposed to~(56)Fe~(17+)heavy ion at irradiation dose of 0. 0( control group),0. 1,0. 3,0. 5,0. 7,1. 0 and 2. 0 Gy,respectively,with the dosing rate of 0. 23-0. 55 Gy / min. Flow-cytometry was used to detect the changes of expression of γH2AX at time points of 0,2,4,8,48 and 72 hours after irradiation. RESULTS: The expression of γH2AX showed interaction existed between radiation dose and the treatment time after radiation( P < 0. 01). Compared with the control at the same time points,the expression of γH2AX increased at the dose of 0. 3-2. 0 Gy and the time points of 2-72hours( P < 0. 05). The expression of γH2AX at the dose of 0. 3-2. 0 Gy and time points of 8-72 hours was lower than those at the same dose and time points of 2 and 4 hours( P < 0. 05). When the dose was at 0. 5,1. 0 or 2. 0 Gy,the expression of γH2AX decreased with the increasing time of exposure in 72 hours( P < 0. 05). At the dose of 0. 0-1. 0 Gy and the time points of 2-4 hours,the expression of γH2AX increased with the increasing dose of irradiation( P < 0. 01). CONCLUSION: The expression of γH2AX in Peng-EBV cells shows a dose-response relationship within 2-4 hours after 0. 0-1. 0 Gy irradiation of~(56)Fe~(17+).