Objective: To investigate the efficacy and incidence of adverse reactions of therapeutic erythrocytapheresis in high altitude polycythemia (HAPC) population. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 243 HAPC patients who were either native residents or long-term workers in Xizang and underwent therapeutic erythrocytapheresis in the Chengdu Office Hospital of the People's Government of Xizang Autonomous Region from 2021 to 2023. A comparative study was carried out on the changes in blood routine, vital signs, skin color, serum iron metabolism data, and the incidence of adverse reactions before and after the procedure. Results: After erythrocytapheresis, significant decreases were observed in red blood cell (RBC) count (7.06±0.89×10 vs 6.08±0.93×10 /L, P<0.001], hemoglobin (HGB, 211.59±17.99 vs 182.76±19.83 g/L, P<0.001), hematocrit (Hct) [(65.30±6.45)% vs (55.56±8.12)%, P<0.001], serum iron (14.46±4.38 vs 11.77±3.78 μmol/L, P=0.003), total iron-binding capacity (126.62±4.47 vs 123.73±3.77 μmol/L, P=0.002), transferrin (1.88±0.41 vs 1.77±0.12 g/L, P=0.023), transferrin saturation [(11.32±3.11)% vs (9.43±2.78)%, P=0.004], serum ferritin (832.4±295.6 vs 665.3±249.2 ng/mL, P<0.001), systolic blood pressure (123.86±14.43 vs 118.51±13.68 mmHg, P<0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (81.68±9.54 vs 74.28±7.61 mmHg, P<0.001). In contrast, platelet count (Plt, 137.21±46.21 ×10 vs 147.94±50.66 ×10 /L, P<0.001) and oxygen saturation [(93.97±3.29)% vs (95.84±2.27)%, P<0.001] increased. No significant differences were found in white blood cell (WBC) count [5.35 (4.59, 6.44)×10 /L vs 5.43 (4.54, 6.53) ×10 /L, P=0.690], unsaturated iron-binding capacity (112.15±0.50 vs 111.96±0.25 μmol/L, P=0.074) and pulse rate (73.42±11.28 vs 73.19±7.18 beats/min, P=0.750). Furthermore, skin color of the face (conjunctiva, lips) and palms mitigated after therapeutic erythrocytapheresis, changing from purplish-red to red. The total incidence of adverse reactions during erythrocytapheresis was 13.98% (34/243), including citrate toxicity 12.75% (31/243), puncture site hematoma 0.82% (2/243) and blood volume imbalance 0.41% (1/243). Conclusion: Therapeutic erythrocytapheresis could rapidly decrease HCT, Hb, serum iron, transferrin and transferrin saturation levels in HAPC patients, with a low incidence of adverse reactions. Therefore, therapeutic erythrocytapheresis has broad clinical application prospects in Xizang Autonomous Region.

Objective:To analyze the effects of low-dose methimazole treatment on thyroid volume and calcitonin levels in patients with hyperthyroidism.Methods:A total of 100 hyperthyroidism patients who were treated at the Mianyang Central Hospital from January to June 2019 were selected and randomly divided into a control group (50 cases) and an observation group (50 cases) using a random number table method. The control group was treated with once a day and 30 mg/dose of methimazole, while the observation group was treated with twice a day and 10 mg/dose of methimazole. Thyroid volume, and thyroid function [Thyroid growth hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), and thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibody (TRAb)] before and after treatment in two groups of patients, the changes in serum levels of calcitonin (CT), visfatin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were compared. The clinical efficacy of two groups were also compared.Results:The total clinical effective rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group ( P<0.05). After treatment, the thyroid volume in the observation group was significantly smaller than that in the control group, and the CT level was significantly lower than that in the control group (all P<0.05). After treatment, the TSH level in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group, while the levels of FT3, FT4, and TRAb were significantly lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of Visfatin, TNF-α, and IL-6 in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Low dose methimazole can improve thyroid function, reduce thyroid volume, lower body CT and inflammation levels in patients with hyperthyroidism, and has a better therapeutic effect.

Objective:To document the clinical efficacy of supplementing intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate with Baduanjin exercise in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA).Methods:Forty patients with KOA were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, each of 20. Both groups received health education and intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate once a week for 5 consecutive weeks. The observation group additionally underwent Baduanjin exercise 3 times a week for the 5 weeks. Before and after the treatment, knee joint function, pain and surface integrated electromyography (iEMG) values of the affected quadriceps were assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster University (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index Scale, and a visual analogue scale (VAS).Results:After the treatment the average VAS and WOMAC scores of both groups had decreased significantly, while the average iEMG value of the quadriceps on the affected side had increased significantly. The average VAS and WOMAC scores of the observation group were significantly lower than the control group′s averages after the treatment, while the average iEMG value of the quadriceps on the affected side was significantly higher.Conclusion:Combining Baduanjin exercise with sodium hyaluronate joint injection in the treatment of KOA has a synergistic effect which can better relieve knee pain, improve knee functioning, and delay the progression of KOA. The combined treatment is worthy of clinical promotion and application.