Effect of Qiling Decoction combined HAART on expression levels of Treg cells and Th17 in HIV/AIDS patients / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of Qiling Decoction (QD) combined highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) on expression levels of peripheral blood Th17 and Treg cells in HIV/AIDS patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 55 HIV/AIDS patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (28 cases) and the combination group (27 cases). Besides, 21 HIV negative patients were recruited as the healthy control group. Those in the treatment group received HARRT alone, while those in the combination group received HAART combined QD. The observation lasted for 24 weeks. Meanwhile, according to peripheral blood CD4+ T cell counts before treatment, HIV/AIDS patients were assigned to three subgroups. For patients in subgroup 1, 1 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 100 cells/microL; For patients in subgroup 2, 101 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 200 cells/lL; For patients in subgroup 3, 201 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 350 cells/microL. Expression of peripheral blood Th17 and Treg cells, and number of CD4+ T cell counts were detected using flow cytometry (FCM)in HIV/AIDS patients at the pre-treatment baseline, week 4, 12, and 24, as well as those in the healthy control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the healthy control group, CD4+ T cell counts and the baseline expression level of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood of HIV/AIDS patients significantly decreased, the expression level of Treg cells significantly increased P < 0.01). Compared with before treatment in the same group, CD4+ T cell counts all increased at week 4, 12, and 24 in the two treatment groups, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the effective rate at various CD4+ T cell levels between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in expression levels of Th17 and Treg cells between the combination group and the treatment group at any time point (all P >0.05). The Th17/Treg ration significantly increased in the combination group after 24 weeks of treatment, showing statistical difference when compared with the treatment group (U = 2.135, P = 0.038).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>QD could improve the immune balance of Th17/Treg cells, which might be one of its mechanisms for improving HIV/AIDS patients' immunity.</p>

Study on the correlation between knee osteoarthritis imaging and effects of arthroscope / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the indications of arthroscope for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis and investigate the correlation between knee osteoarthritis imaging and effects of arthroscope.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From 2005.8 to 2008.4, 86 patients with knee osteoarthritis underwent arthroscope examination and treatment. Among the patients, 44 patients were male, and 42 patients were female, ranging in age from 46 to 67 years, averaged 56.3 years. Arthrodial cartilage of knee was graded by ICRS MR, and by Kellgern Laqrence X-ray. All the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 12 to 30 months. The Lysholm score was evaluated at the follow-up time.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 86 knees in 86 cases, cartilage injury degree of knees was graded as follows: grade 4 in 30 cases, grade 3 in 22 cases, grade 2 in 20 cases, grade 1 in 12 cases, grade 0 in 2 cases, mean grade (2.77 +/- 1.138). Postoperative Lysholm score ranged from 59 to 100, averaged (95.17 +/- 7.556), Kendall's correlation coefficient was -0.089, P = 0.317. There was no correlations between cartilage injury degree and Lysholm score. X-ray of knees was graded as follows: grade 4 in 0 cases, grade 3 in 24 cases, grade 2 in 38 cases, grade 1 in 17 cases, grade 0 in 7 cases, mean grade was (2.13 +/- 0.67), the Kendall's correlation coefficient was -0.851 with negative correlations (P = 0.036) between postoperative Lysholm score and K/L grade.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There is no correlation between the grade of knee cartilage injury confirmed by MRI (1.5T) and effects of arthroscopy, and the grade is not a gold standard as an operation indication in arthroscope procedure. The K/L grade in X-ray had important effects.</p>

Comparison of the relativity of MRI appearance of cartilage injuries and postoperative effect of arthroscope on articular cartilage disease of knee / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the indication of arthroscope by examining the correlations between cartilage injury degree confirmed by MRI and postoperative effect.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From Aug. 2005 to April 2008, 87 cases with knee osteoarthritis were treated by arthroscopes including 44 males and 43 females,aged from 16 to 67 years (means 46.3 years). Arthrodial cartilage of knee was graded by ICRS MR, and the therapeutic effect was evaluated by Lysholm scoring.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All 87 knees of 87 cases were followed-up for from 12 to 30 months (averaged 23 months). The cartilage injury degree of knees was graded as follows: grade 4 in 30 cases, grade 3 in 23 cases, grade 2 in 20 cases, grade 1 in 12 cases, grade 0 in 2 cases, means grade (2.770 +/- 1.138). Postoperative Lysholm score was from 59 to 100, means (95.170 +/- 7.556). Coefficient correlation (r) = -0.152, P = 0.159 > 0.05. Although the results had no correlations between cartilage injury degree and Lysholm score, negative correlation tendency existed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The patients with higher grade of knee cartilage injury degree confirmed by MRI (1.5T) have worse effect after operation, the grade is not a gold standard as a operation indication in arthroscopic procedure.</p>