Influence of wind, cold and dampness on clinical manifestation of knee osteoarthritis patients based on the stratifications of traditional Chinese medicine constitution / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To explore influence of external factors of wind, cold and dampness on clinical symptoms in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients with different constitutions of traditional Chinese medicine.@*METHODS@#A cross-sectional stratified study was performed to select 108 patients with GradeⅡKOA in Kellgren & Lawrence (K-L) classification, including 22 males and 86 females, aged from 47 to 75 years old with an average of (60.7±6.0) years old;body mass index(BMI) ranged from 17.87 to 31.22 kg·m-2 with an average of (23.80±2.86) kg·m-2. According to Classification and Judgment of TCM Physique (ZYYXH/T157-2009), the types of TCM physique were determined and divided into 4 layers according to the deficiency and actual physique. Among them, there were 24 patients without biased physique, 12 males and 12 females, aged from 51 to 73 years old with an average of(62.8±6.0) years old, BMI ranged from 17.87 to 31.14 kg·m-2 with an average of (24.32±3.25) kg·m-2;there were 46 patients with virtual bias constitution, including 7 males and 39 females, aged from 47 to 70 years old with an average of (60.0±5.8) years old, BMI ranged from 19.38 to 31.22 kg·m-2 with an average of(23.42±2.97) kg·m-2;There were 26 patients with solid bias constitution, including 2 males and 24 females, aged from 48 to 75 years old with an average of (60.4±5.8) years old, BMI ranged from 21.16 to 30.76 kg·m-2 with an average of (24.15±2.33) kg·m-2;there were 9 patients with special constitution, 1 male and 8 female, aged from 53 to 75 years old with an average of (59.8±7.5) years old, BMI ranged from 19.26 to 26.67 kg·m-2 with an average of (23.79±2.49) kg·m-2. Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) was used to evaluate severity of clinical symptoms. The wind-cold-dampness external factor score was calculated through the questionnaire of wind-cold-dampness syndrome scale to evaluate degree of influence of wind-cold-dampness external factor. Pearson correlation analysis and partial correlation analysis were used to calculate the correlation coefficient between severity of external factors affecting wind, cold and dampness and severity of clinical symptoms in patients with different TCM constitution stratification.@*RESULTS@#There was no statistical significance between total score of wind-cold-dampness and WOMAC score in patients with no biased constitution and special condition. Total wind-cold-dampness score of patients with virtual biased constitution was positively correlated with WOMAC stiffness score (r=0.327, P=0.032), and total wind-cold-dampness score of patients with solid biased constitution was positively correlated with WOMAC pain score (r=0.561, P=0.005) and WOMAC overall score (r=0.446, P=0.033). After further adjusting for the interaction of external factors of wind-cold-dampness, there was no statistical significance between wind-cold-dampness scores and WOMAC scores in patients with solid biased constitution. The score of dampness and pathogenic factors was positively correlated with WOMAC stiffness score (r=0.414, P=0.007).@*CONCLUSION@#The external factors of wind-cold dampness have different effects on the clinical symptoms of KOA patients with different TCM constitutions. Compared with other constitutions, the rigid symptoms of patients with asthenic biased constitutions are more susceptible to dampness pathogenic factors.

Effects of different concentrations of image intensifiers on dose calculation for NPC / 医疗卫生装备

Objective To evaluate the clinical feasibility of localization CT enhanced image replacing plain CT scan image for target delineation and dose calculation.Methods Forty cases of NPC were collected and divided into two groups with different concentrations of contrast agents.The contours of planning target volume (PTV) and organs at risk (OARs) of each case were delineated in the plain scan image,and the contours of PTV and OARs were copied to the enhanced image.Two plans based on the plain scan image and the enhanced image were designed in the planning system of Eclipse.The dose distribution and OARs and MU were compared between the groups.Results No statistical differences were found in the dosimetry of PTV,OARs and MU (P＞0.05).Conclusion The image intensifier has little effect on the dose calculation of Eclipse for NPC.In the radiotherapy for NPC,the localization CT enhanced image can be used to replace the plain CT scan image for target delineation and dose calculation.

Study on processing mechanism of Pinellia ternate / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Elucidating the detoxification mechanism of the raw Pinellia ternata processed by alum solution or alkaline solution (pH > 12).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Raw Pinellia ternata was immersed in alum solution and alkaline solution according to Chinese pharmacopoeia. Observed the shape's changing of needle-like calcium oxalate crystals by scanning electro-microscopy. Determinating the contents of calcium oxalate crystals by applying oxidation reduction titration. Measured the irritations of raw P. ternata and various processing products on the model of rabbits'eyes.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>After processed by 8% alum solution prescribed in Chinese pharmacopoeia or 10% sodium carbonate solution, the needle-like shape of raphides in raw Pinellia ternata were changing and the sting barb of raphides were rusted and dissolved, the contents of calcium oxalate crystal in raw Pinellia ternata were sharply declined from more than 1% to less than 0.5%. the decline of contents is relative to the irritation decline of P. ternata on rabbit's eyes. Less than 0.5% calcium oxalate crystals of P. ternata almost had no irritation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>After processed by 8% alum solution or sodium carbonate solution (pH > 12) , the irritation components in raw P. ternata could be rusted and dissolved, the needle point of raphides was broken, which led to the raphides'content declining and the irritation disappearing. The micro-structures, shapes and contents of calcium oxalate crystals in different medicine plants were not same. These properties of calcium oxalate crystal in India Madder Root and yam et al were very different from those in raw P. ternata.</p>