ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To comprehensively evaluate the health status of 6 volunteers from the Mars 500 Project through analyzing their pulse graphs and determining the changes in cardiovascular function, degree of fatigue and autonomic nervous function.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Six volunteers were recruited; all were male aged 26-38 years (average 31.83±4.96 years). Characteristic parameters reflflecting the status of cardiovascular functions were extracted, which included left ventricular contraction, vascular elasticity and peripheral resistance. The degree of fatigue was determined depending on the difference between the calendar age and biological age, which was calculated through the analysis of blood pressure value and characteristic parameters. Based on the values of pulse height variation and pulse time variation on a 30-s pulse graph, autonomic nervous function was evaluated. All parameters examined were marked on an equilateral polygon to form an irregular polygon of the actual fifigure, then health status was evaluated based on the coverage area of the actual fifigure.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results demonstrated: (1) volunteers developed weakened pulse power, increased vascular tension and peripheral resistance, and slight decreased ventricular systolic function; (2) the degree of fatigue was basically mild or moderate; and (3) autonomic nervous function was excited but generally balanced.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These volunteers were in the state of sub-health. According to Chinese medicine theories, such symptoms are mainly caused by the weakening of healthy qi, Gan (Liver) failing in free coursing, and disharmony between Gan and Wei (Stomach), which manifests as a weak and string-like pulse.</p>
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the efficacy and safety of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in children with Hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B virus infection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PubMed and Chinese Biomedical Database were searched from the beginning of operation of the databases to April 2006, and the references of eligible studies were manually screened. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in the English and Chinese literature comparing interferon-alpha with non-antiviral interventions (placebo or no treatment) in children with hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B virus infection were eligible for inclusion. Studies were included if patients were treated for at least 3 months and followed-up for at least 6 months after cessation of therapy. Two investigators independently assessed the quality and extracted the data. The methodological quality of trails was assessed by the Jadad-scale plus allocation concealment. Heterogeneity was examined by Chi-square test. Fixed effects model or random effects model were used to pool the data. Sensitivity analyses were used for the treatment course.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Ten randomized controlled studies with a total of 542 children chronic HBV carriers who were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) were identified. It was found by the meta-analysis that, compared with the control, at the end of the follow-up period, IFN-alpha could still significantly clear HBeAg [31.1% vs. 12.4%, odds ratio (OR): 3.17, 95% CI (2.00, 5.02), P < 0.000 01], clear HBV-DNA [33.9% vs. 16.2%, OR: 2.59, 95% CI (1.70, 3.96), P < 0.0001], clear HBsAg [5.5% vs. 1.2%, OR: 3.44, 95% CI (1.20, 9.89), P = 0.02], normalize ALT [43.0% vs. 27.7%, OR: 1.99, 95% CI (1.16, 3.42), P = 0.01], and achieve HBeAg seroconversion [30.4% vs. 12.8%, OR: 2.90, 95% CI (1.56, 5.39), P = 0.0008], but was not effective in HBsAg seroconversion [1.9% vs. 0, 95% CI (0.42, 18.13), P = 0.29].</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Interferon-alpha might be efficacious in clearance of HBeAg, HBV-DNA and HBsAg, normalization of ALT, and achievement of HBeAg seroconversion in children with chronic hepatitis B. Little evidence is available on HBsAg seroconversion. Further RCTs of high-quality and sufficient number of cases are needed for confirmation of the clinical efficacy of IFN-alpha in chronic hepatitis B in children.</p>