Objective To study the correlation between traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)constitution and pathogenic factors in patients with ankylosing spondylitis(AS).Methods One hundred patients of AS and their family members who had medical consultation in the Fifth Hospital of Xi'an(i.e.,Shaanxi Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine)in August 2019 and September 2020 were selected as the study subjects.The guidelines of Classification and Determination of Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution issued by the China Association of Chinese Medicine were adopted to determine the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)constitution types of the study subjects.The sociodemographic information,living habits,clinical symptoms,and TCM constitution types of the AS patients and their family members were collected by means of questionnaires and clinical investigations,and then the pathogenic factors of the patients with AS were investigated.The binomial Logistic regression model was used to analyze the correlation between TCM constitution types and pathogenic factors in patients with AS.Results(1)Among the 100 AS patients,the majority of them had the biased constitutions,and the biased constitutions with the occurrence frequency in descending order were yang deficiency constitution,qi deficiency constitution,and damp-heat constitution,which accounted for 33.00%,14.00%,and 18.00%,respectively.(2)The prevalence rates of AS in the first-,second-,and third-degree relatives of AS patients were 56.25%,40.00%and 25.00%,respectively.For the positive rates of human leukocyte antigen B27(HLA-B27)in AS patients and their family members,HLA-B27 in AS patients was all positive,while the positive rates of HLA-B27 in the first-,second-,and third-degree relatives of AS patients were 44.31%,30.67%and 15.63%,respectively.(3)The results of regression analysis showed that the disease duration of AS patients was significantly correlated with qi deficiency constitution,the grading of sacroiliac arthritis was correlated with qi stagnation constitution,and age was correlated with blood stasis constitution(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The results indicated that disease duration and age were the important factors affecting the constitution types of AS patients,and disease duration was closely related to qi deficiency while age was closely related to blood stasis.Conclusion AS is a highly hereditary autoimmune disease,and its onset is associated with HLA-B27.Yang deficiency is the basic constitution type of AS,and damp-heat constitution is the main constitution type in the progression of AS(especially in the active stage of the disease).The prolongation of the disease will exacerbate the illness condition of AS and then the manifestations of qi deficiency will be more obvious.

Circadian clock is an internal mechanism evolved to adapt to cyclic environmental changes, especially diurnal changes. Keeping the internal clock in synchronization with the external clock is essential for health. Mismatch of the clocks due to phase shift or disruption of molecular clocks may lead to circadian disorders, including abnormal sleep-wake cycles, as well as disrupted rhythms in hormone secretion, blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, etc. Long-term circadian disorders are risk factors for various common critical diseases such as metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and tumor. To prevent or treat the circadian disorders, scientists have conducted extensive research on the function of circadian clocks and their roles in the development of diseases, and screened hundreds of thousands of compounds to find candidates to regulate circadian rhythms. In addition, melatonin, light therapy, exercise therapy, timing and composition of food also play a certain role in relieving associated symptoms. Here, we summarized the progress of both drug- and non-drug-based approaches to prevent and treat circadian clock disorders.
Circadian Rhythm ; Circadian Clocks ; Melatonin/physiology*

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of targeted sealing with high viscosity bone cement and secondary injection of low viscosity bone cement in the treatment of OVCFs patients with the fracture lines involved vertebral body margin. METHODS: The elderly patients who underwent vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures from January 2019 to September 2021 were selected as the screening objects. Through relevant standards and further CT examination, 56 patients with fracture lines involving the anterior wall or upper and lower endplates of the vertebral body were selected for the study. There were 21 males and 35 females, aged from 67 to 89 years old with an average of (76.58±9.68) years. All 56 patients underwent secondary injection of bone cement during operation. Only a small amount of high viscosity cement was targeted to seal the edge of the vertebral body for the first time, and low viscosity cement was injected to the vertebral bodies during second bolus with well-distributed. The operation time, bone cement volume and bone cement leakage were recorded, and the pain relief was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: All patients were followed up for more than 3 months and the surgeries were successfully complete. The operation time was (50.41±10.30) min and the bone cement volume was (3.64±1.29) ml. The preoperative VAS was (7.21±2.41) points, which decreased significantly to (2.81±0.97) points 3 days after operation(P<0.05). Among the 56 patients, 2 cases(3.57%) had bone cement leakage, 1 case leaked to the paravertebral vein, and 1 case slightly bulged to the paravertebral through the crack when plugging the vertebral crack. Both patients had no obvious clinical symptoms. CONCLUSION In vertebroplasty surgery, targeted sealing of high viscosity bone cement and secondary injection of low viscosity bone cement can reduce intraoperative bone cement leakage and improve the safety of operation.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Cements/therapeutic use* ; Fractures, Compression/etiology* ; Spinal Fractures/surgery* ; Viscosity ; Osteoporotic Fractures/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Vertebroplasty/adverse effects* ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence of extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR) and its risk factors in very preterm infants (VPIs) during hospitalization in China. METHODS: A prospective multicenter study was performed on the medical data of 2 514 VPIs who were hospitalized in the department of neonatology in 28 hospitals from 7 areas of China between September 2019 and December 2020. According to the presence or absence of EUGR based on the evaluation of body weight at the corrected gestational age of 36 weeks or at discharge, the VPIs were classified to two groups: EUGR group (n=1 189) and non-EUGR (n=1 325). The clinical features were compared between the two groups, and the incidence of EUGR and risk factors for EUGR were examined. RESULTS: The incidence of EUGR was 47.30% (1 189/2 514) evaluated by weight. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher weight growth velocity after regaining birth weight and higher cumulative calorie intake during the first week of hospitalization were protective factors against EUGR (P<0.05), while small-for-gestational-age birth, prolonged time to the initiation of total enteral feeding, prolonged cumulative fasting time, lower breast milk intake before starting human milk fortifiers, prolonged time to the initiation of full fortified feeding, and moderate-to-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia were risk factors for EUGR (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS It is crucial to reduce the incidence of EUGR by achieving total enteral feeding as early as possible, strengthening breastfeeding, increasing calorie intake in the first week after birth, improving the velocity of weight gain, and preventing moderate-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia in VPIs.
Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Gestational Age ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

AIM:To investigate the effect of salvianolic acid B (Sal B) on high glucose-induced phenotypic transition and extracellular matrix (ECM) secretion in human glomerular mesangial cells (HGMCs) and the underlying mechanisms.METHODS:HGMCs were randomly divided into control group, high glucose group and high glucose plus high dose, medium dose and low dose of Sal B groups.The HGMCs except those in control group were exposed to high glucose (33.3 mmol/L) for 72 h, while those in Sal B groups were co-incubated with indicated concentrations of Sal B.The protein levels ofα-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) , transforming growth () and phosphorylated Smad2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were determined by Western blot.The secretion levels of collagen type I (Col I) , collagen type III (Col III) , fibronectin (FN) and laminin (LN) were measured by ELISA.RESULTS:Exposure to high glucose markedly increased the protein expression ofI, Col III, FN and LN in the HG-MCs (P<0.01).The phosphorylation levels of Smad2 and p38 MAPK were also significantly increased (P<0.01).Coincubation with Sal B evidently decreased the protein expression ofI, Col III, FN and LN in the HGMCs induced by high glucose (P<0.05 or P<0.01).The phosphorylated levels of Smad2 and p38 MAPK were also reduced noticeably (P<0.05 or P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Sal B significantly suppresses high glucose-induced phenotypic transition and ECM secretion in the HGMCs, which might be attributed, at least partly, to inhibition ofSmad signaling pathway and p38 MAPK activation.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Humans ; Solitary Fibrous Tumors ; diagnosis ; surgery

BACKGROUNDData on the epidemiology of hypertension in Chinese non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the non-dialysis CKD patients through a nationwide, multicenter study in China.

METHODSThe survey was performed in 61 tertiary hospitals in 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China (except Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan). Trained physicians collected demographic and clinical data and measured blood pressure (BP) using a standardized protocol. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg, and/or use of antihypertensive medications. BP < 140/90 mmHg and < 130/80 mmHg were used as the 2 thresholds of hypertension control. In multivariate logistic regression with adjustment for sex and age, we analyzed the association between CKD stages and uncontrolled hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients.

RESULTSThe analysis included 8927 non-dialysis CKD patients. The prevalence, awareness, and treatment of hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients were 67.3%, 85.8%, and 81.0%, respectively. Of hypertensive CKD patients, 33.1% and 14.1% had controlled BP to < 140/90 mmHg and < 130/80 mmHg, respectively. With successive CKD stages, the prevalence of hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients increased, but the control of hypertension decreased (P < 0.001). When the threshold of BP < 130/80 mmHg was considered, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension in CKD 2, 3a, 3b, 4, and 5 stages increased 1.3, 1.4, 1.4, 2.5, and 4.0 times compared with CKD 1 stage, respectively (P < 0.05). Using the threshold of < 140/90 mmHg, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased in advanced stages (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of hypertension Chinese non-dialysis CKD patients was high, and the hypertension control was suboptimal. With successive CKD stages, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased.

Adult ; Aged ; Awareness ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; complications

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the combination chemotherapy of capecitabine (X) with fractionated administration of cisplatin (C) in Chinese patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC).

METHODS141 patients with AGC were enrolled between July 2002 and August 2004. All patients had measurable tumor according to the criteria of RECIST, Karnofsky performance status > or = 60, adequate bone marrow, renal and hepatic functions. Prior radiotherapy or adjuvant chemotherapy was not permitted. Patients received oral administration of capecitabine at a dose of 1000 mg/m(2) twice a day on D1-D14, and intravenous infusion of fractionated cisplatin at a dose of 20 mg/m(2)/day on D1-D5. The regimen was repeated every 3 weeks, totally for 6 cycles.

RESULTSOf the 141 evaluable patients, there were 104 men and 37 women, with a median age of 54 years (range, 23 - 80 years). Metastases before chemotherapy were detected in lymph nodes (46.8%), liver (40.4%), lung (5.7%) and other area (10.6%). The median treatment duration was 6 cycles (range, 3 - 6 cycles). The objective response rate (RR) was 36.2% (51/141). The median follow-up period was 17.5 months. The median time to progress (TTP) was 9.0 months, and the median overall survival (OS) was 12.0 months. The most common treatment-related adverse events (grade 3/4) were: hand-foot syndrome (HFS) (2.1%), leucopenia (0.7%), abnormal alanine transaminase elevation (2.8%). There was no treatment-related death.

CONCLUSIONCapecitabine combined with fractionated cisplatin is highly effective and well tolerated as a first-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer, with comparable results to 5-Fu plus cisplatin combination therapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Capecitabine ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Deoxycytidine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot Dermatoses ; chemically induced ; Hand Dermatoses ; chemically induced ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; chemically induced ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; secondary ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; secondary ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Remission Induction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Survival Rate ; Vomiting ; chemically induced ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the effect and mechanism of Ganbi decoction (GBD) in treating patients with antituberculotic agent caused liver injury (ATB-LI).

METHODSOne hundred and twenty-eight patients with ATB-LI were randomly assigned to the treated group (n = 66) and the control group (n = 62) with the envelop method. Meanwhile, 60 healthy persons were selected as the healthy control group. The treated group was treated by GBD one dose every day with the constituents modified depending on patients' symptoms, and the control group was treated with glucuronolactone tablets and inosine injection. One week was taken as one treatment course. The changes of clinical syndromes, physical signs, T-lymphycyte sub-groups and serum level of nitric oxide (NO) were observed before and after treatment and the recovery time of liver function was recorded. The outcome was compared with that in the healthy control group.

RESULTSIn the treated group, 28 patients (42.4%) were cured, 30 (45.5%) improved and 8 (12.1%) ineffectively cured, the total effective rate being 87.9% (58/66). In the control group, 17 patients (27.4%) were cured, 24 (38.7%) improved, and 21 (33.9%) ineffectively cured, the total effective rate being 66.1% (41/62). The total effective rate in the treated group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Liver function was improved in both groups, recovery time in the treated group was 12.0 +/- 7.0 days, which was significantly shorter than that in the control group (16.0 +/- 8.0 days), showing significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The levels of CD3, CD4 and CD8 were significantly higher and level of NO significantly lower in the two groups of patients than those in the healthy control group (P < 0.05), but these parameters were improved more significantly in the treated group after treatment, when compared with those before treatment or with those in the control group, all showing significant difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGBD could prevent ATB-LI, and its mechanism could be by way of reducing NO production induced by endotoxin of macrophage and stimulating the proliferation of T-lymphycyte to elevate immunity.

Adult ; Aged ; Antitubercular Agents ; adverse effects ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glucuronates ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Inosine ; therapeutic use ; Liver Diseases ; drug therapy ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; Treatment Outcome