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ObjectiveTo examine the clinical features of fractures and related risk factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA) in China.MethodsSix hundred and eighty-one RA patients were randomly selected from department of rheumatology of 18 hospitals of China.Data were obtained from the questionnaire,including age,sex,disease duration,the involvement of joints,treatment regimen,features of fractures etc.The possible risk factors of fracture in patients with RA were analyzed with a multi-variate Logistic regression analysis.Results① In 681 RA patients of the survey,48 patients had 54 fractures,and the incidence of fractures was about 8％.② Fractures occurred at various sites.Foot/ankle,femur,spine and wrist were the mostfrequent sites.③ The Logistic regression analysis showed that several factors increased the risk of fracture in RA patients,including long disease duration (OR:1.245,95％CI:0.987-1.570,P=0.065),male gender(OR:0.433,95％CI:0.199-0.942,P=0.035),more deformed joints(OR:1.042,95％CI:1.006-1.079,P=0.023),family history of RA (OR:2.201,95％CI:0.984-4.923,P=0.055),and high scores of SF-36(OR:1.017,95％CI:1.002-1.033,P=0.028).④ According to the degree of correlation from strong to weak,the risk factors of fracture were disease duration,SF-36,sex,number of deformed joints and family history of rheumatoid arthritis.ConclusionThe incidence of fracture is high in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Several factors could increase the risk of fractures in RA patients,including long disease duration,male gender,more deformed joints,and family history of RA.In order to prevent the occurrence of fractures,cautions should be taken to prevent the development of fractures and treat the disease aggressively to suppress the disease activity of RA.
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Objective To describe the distribution of medication costs of rheumatoid arthritis patients, and to analyze the factors that may affect the costs. Methods Data were obtained from a 12-month retrospective investigation of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) across China. Department of Rheuma-tology of 18 hospitals were randomly selected. The data about their social conditions, clinical conditions, medications associated with RA such as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), non -steroidal anti -inflammtory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids, biologic agents were collected, and the costs of drugs were calculated. A non-parameter test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. Results Six hundred and forty six patients were enrolled into the study, 435 completed data were chosen for analysis. The results demonstrated that the average costs per patient for medications in the past year was 8018 . The total medication costs were further subdivided into the following parts: DMARDs, (represented 20% of the total costs), biologic drugs (49%), NSAIDs (4%), herbal drugs (22%), steroids (1%). Data analysis showed that patients with higher education and higher incomes, with medical insurance,better health function status and outpatients paid more on DMARDs. Extra-articular manifestations increased the odds of the high-cost group (OR: 2.180, 95%CI: 1.335～3.558, P=0.002), while poor health function status increased the probability of paying high costs (OR: 1.373, 95%CI: 1.012～1.863, P=0.041). Conclusion High medication costs in RA do exist in RA patients. The costs of medication is associated with health function status and the presence of extra-articular manifestations.
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@# Objective To observe the protective effect of Qiangxin oral liquid on experimental left ventricular hypertrophy induced by isoproterenol and ultrastructure in rats.MethodsMyocardial hypertrophy model of rats were established by injection of isoproterenol (5 mg/kg/d) for 7 days. Thirty rats were divided into the control group, model group and treatment group (treated with Qiangxin oral liquid from second day after myocardial hypertrophy model made and continued for 12 weeks). Cardiac structure and function were detected in all groups by ultrasonography on 2nd, 6th and 12th week after model made respectively. After 12 weeks, the left ventricular weight/body weight index (LVW/BW) of all animals was tested and myocardial ultrastructure was examined.ResultsCompared with the model group, the interventricular septal end systolic thickness, left ventricular posterior wall thickness, left ventricular diameter, and left ventricular mass index of the treatment group decreased significantly ( P<0.05～0.01), while the damage of myocardial ultrastructrue lightened.ConclusionQiangxin oral liquid can improve the experimental myocardial hypertrophy of rats induced by isoproterenol.
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OBJECTIVE: To study the curative effect of Sodium Ferulate( SF) on rheumatoid arthritis( RA) and its effects on the levels of serum vascular endothelial growth factor( VEGF) and tumor necrosis factor- ? ( TNF- ? ) . METHODS: A total of 43 patients with RA were randomly divided into trial group and the control group: conventional treatment was adopted in both groups, but the trial group was treated additionally with SF injection for 4 consecutive weeks. Serum levels of VEGF and TNF- ? before and after treatment were determined by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay( ELISA) . RESULTS: The total effective rate in the trial group the control group were 91. 30% vs. 75. 00% ( P
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OBJECTIVE:To observe the curative effects of compound glycyrrhizin injection in treatment of primary sjogren syndrome(PSS).METHODS:68 patients with PSS were randomized into the treatment group and control group,and treated for 4wk with hydroxypiperaquine,bromhexine and carmellose.The treatment group also received compound glycyrrhizin injection in addition to the three agents for the control group.RESULTS:After treatment for 4wk,both groups saw some declines in IgG,IgM,IgA,ESR and RF,and improvement in indicators such as schemer test and saliva flow rate,with the treatment group showing more significant improvement than the control group(P