Clinical efficacy of ear acupoint pressing beans combined with escitalopram tablets in the treatment of depression / 中国基层医药

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of ear acupoint pressing beans combined with escitalopram tablets in the treatment of depression.Methods:A total of 100 patients with depression who received treatment in the Department of Psychiatrics, The Third People's Hospital of Yongkang from October 2021 to February 2023 were included in this randomized controlled study. These patients were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group, with 50 patients in each group, using a random number table method. The control group was treated with escitalopram tablets, while the observation group was treated with ear acupoint pressing beans combined with escitalopram tablets. The two groups were treated for 8 weeks. Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), serotonin levels, clinical efficacy, and adverse reactions were recorded in each group.Results:After treatment, the HAMD scores in each group were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment (both P < 0.001). After treatment, the HAMD scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group [(15.89 ± 1.08) points vs. (19.24 ± 1.27) points, t = 14.21, P < 0.001]. After treatment, the traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores in each group were significantly lower than those before treatment (both P < 0.001). After treatment, the traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group [(6.83 ± 1.24) points vs. (9.78 ± 1.80) points, t = 9.54, P < 0.001]. After treatment, the PSQI scores in each group were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment (both P < 0.001). After treatment, the PSQI scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group [(7.00 ± 1.34) points vs. (9.48 ± 1.82) points, t = 7.76, P < 0.001]. After treatment, the levels of serotonin in each group were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment (both P < 0.001). The levels of serotonin in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group [(40.65 ± 5.37) μg/L vs. (32.52 ± 4.20) μg/L, t = 8.43, P < 0.001]. The total effective rate in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group [94% (47/50) vs. 80% (40/50), χ2= 4.33, P = 0.037]. The incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group [8% (4/50) vs. 10% (5/50), χ2= 0.12, P = 0.727]. Conclusion:The combination of ear acupoint pressing beans and escitalopram tablets shows good clinical efficacy in the treatment of depression. This combined therapy can reduce symptoms, improve sleep quality, increase serotonin levels and also has fewer adverse reactions, making it a worthy candidate for clinical promotion.

Daidzein affects proliferation and apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer cells:role of p53 signaling pathway / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the effects of daidzeinDD on the proliferation and apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer cells,with a focus on the possible role of the p53 signaling pathway in this regard. Methods CCK-8 method and flow cytometry were used to detect the effects of soy isoflavone crude extract and DD on the viability and apoptosis of HELF and H1299 cells. Gene microarray was used to detect the changes in gene expression after treatment of H1299 cells with DD. GSEA and differential analysis were used to screen the major pathways and key genes. RT-qPCR and Western blot were performed to verify the differences in mRNA and protein expression of key genesp53 and CASP9 in the major pathways. After p53 inhibitor Pifithrin-α inhibited the expression of p53,the effect of DD on p53 mRNA and protein expression levels was examined,and the proliferative effect on H1299 cells was observed. Results Soy isoflavone crude extract and DD promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of normal lung cells and inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis of lung cancer cells. p53 signaling pathway was significantly enriched in the DD-treated groupNES=1.78,P=0.000,and the expressions of p53 and CASP9 genes were found to be significantly up-regulated in the treated group. Compared with the control group,mRNA expression of CASP9 and p53 significantly increased in both HELF and H1299 cells treated with DDP<0.05,and p53 protein expression also increased in HELF cellsP<0.05. After inhibition of p53 expression,DD significantly increased the mRNA expression of p53 in H1299 and HELF cellsP<0.05 and also markedly increased the expression of p53 protein in H1299 cellsP<0.05,and it was observed that DD inhibited the proliferation of lung cancer cells. Conclusions DD inhibits the proliferation and promotes the apoptosis of lung cancer H1299 cells,and the mechanism mainly involves the p53 signaling pathway.

A cross-sectional study on the prevalence rate and influencing factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in overweight/obese children / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To investigate the prevalence rate of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in overweight/obese children who visit a hospital, and to explore the influencing factors of NAFLD, in order to provide a basis for the prevention of NAFLD in overweight/obese children.@*METHODS@#Overweight/obese children who visited Hunan Children's Hospital from June 2019 to September 2021 were recruited. The prevalence rate of NAFLD was examined. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the factors influencing the development of NAFLD [non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)]. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value of the influencing factors for NAFL and NASH.@*RESULTS@#A total of 844 overweight/obese children aged 6-17 years were enrolled. The prevalence rate of NAFLD in overweight/obese children was 38.2% (322/844), among which the prevalence rates of NAFL and NASH were 28.8% (243/844) and 9.4% (79/844), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the increase of waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were associated with the development of NAFL and NASH (P<0.05). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the combined measurement of WHR and HDL-C had a predictive value for NAFL (area under the curve: 0.653, 95%CI: 0.613-0.694), and for NASH (area under the curve: 0.771, 95%CI: 0.723-0.819).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The prevalence rate of NAFLD in overweight/obese children who visit a hospital is high. WHR and HDL-C are associated with the development of NAFLD and the combined measurement of WHR and HDL-C has a certain value for predicating the development of NAFLD.

Risk factors for metabolic bone disease of prematurity in very/extremely low birth weight infants: a multicenter investigation in China / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the incidence rate and risk factors for metabolic bone disease of prematurity (MBDP) in very low birth weight/extremely low birth weight (VLBW/ELBW) infants.@*METHODS@#The medical data of 61 786 neonates from multiple centers of China between September 1, 2013 and August 31, 2016 were retrospectively investigated, including 504 VLBW/ELBW preterm infants who met the inclusion criteria. Among the 504 infants, 108 infants diagnosed with MBDP were enrolled as the MBDP group and the remaining 396 infants were enrolled as the non-MBDP group. The two groups were compared in terms of general information of mothers and preterm infants, major diseases during hospitalization, nutritional support strategies, and other treatment conditions. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the risk factors for MBDP.@*RESULTS@#The incidence rate of MBDP was 19.4% (88/452) in VLBW preterm infants and 38.5% (20/52) in ELBW preterm infants. The incidence rate of MBDP was 21.7% in preterm infants with a gestational age of < 32 weeks and 45.5% in those with a gestational age of < 28 weeks. The univariate analysis showed that compared with the non-MBDP group, the MBDP group had significantly lower gestational age and birth weight, a significantly longer length of hospital stay, and a significantly higher incidence rate of extrauterine growth retardation (@*CONCLUSIONS@#A lower gestational age, hypocalcemia, extrauterine growth retardation at discharge, and neonatal sepsis may be associated an increased risk of MBDP in VLBW/ELBW preterm infants. It is necessary to strengthen perinatal healthcare, avoid premature delivery, improve the awareness of the prevention and treatment of MBDP among neonatal pediatricians, and adopt positive and reasonable nutrition strategies and comprehensive management measures for preterm infants.

The impact of ceasing mutual blood donation on voluntary blood donation in Guangzhou / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To investigate the impact of ceasing mutual blood donation on voluntary blood donation in Guangzhou. 【Methods】 The data of blood donation from July 2016 to December 2019 (42-month before and after the official cease of mutual blood donation) in the Blood Collection and Supply System of Guangzhou Blood Center, including whole blood donations and apheresis platelets donations, were collected for interrupted time series analysis by month. Blood donors who donated (either whole blood or platelets) during 2016 were followed up until December 31, 2019, and the re-donation rate was analyzed by Chi-square test, t test and logistic regression analysis. 【Results】 The results showed that ceasing mutual blood donation had a significantly positive effect on the increase of platelet donations, but had no significant effect on whole blood donation. In 2016, whole blood donations and platelet donations were mainly voluntary (86.4% and 60.8%, respectively). In comparison of voluntary blood donation, the overall blood deferral rate(by dual assays) of mutual blood donation was higher (P<0.01), but the difference diminished as they donated twice or more. The re-donation rate of blood donors (mutual non-remunerated, voluntary, or both) all increased after the ceasing of mutual blood donation (mutual non-remunerated, : 4.7% vs 4.0%, χ2=29.8, P<0.01; voluntary: 24.8% vs 9.9%, χ2=17295.3, P<0.01; both: 36.3% vs 28.1%, χ2=29.3, P<0.01). The re-donation rate of mutual platelet donors decreased after the ceasing of mutual blood donation, but the number of voluntary platelet donors increased. 【Conclusion】 The ceasing of mutual blood donation was in favour of voluntary blood donation in Guangzhou since various means had been previously adopted by Guangzhou Blood Center to create a long-term mechanism of voluntary blood donation. The number of voluntary blood donors has increased, and the clinical use of blood has been further guaranteed.

Effects of gut microbiota on pharmacokinetics and its consideration in the evaluation of the consistency of quality and efficacy of generic drugs / 中国临床药理学与治疗学

Generic drugs account for more than 95% of the chemicals market in China, and their quality is directly related to the efficacy and safety of the people. The bioequivalence evaluation with pharmacokinetic parameters as the end point is the main content of the consistency evaluation of the quality and efficacy of generic drugs. Gut microbiota is considered to have an important influence on pharmacokinetics. This article reviewed the influence of gut microbiota on pharmacokinetics and analyzed its potential significance in the evaluation of the consistency of quality and efficacy of generic drugs.

Mechanism of Modified Erzhiwan Combined with Epimedium for Atherosclerosis Based on Network Pharmacology / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective::In this study, a network pharmacology-based method was applied to analyze the mechanism of modified Erzhiwan combined with epimedium in treatment of atherosclerosis. Method::The compounds and targets of modified Erzhiwan combined with epimedium were screened in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) systems pharmacology database and analysis platform (TCMSP) and bioinformatics analysis tool for molecular mechanism of TCM (BATMAN-TCM). Mang related databases were applied to find the target-related to atherosclerosis.The common targets of modified Erzhiwan combined with epimedium and atherosclerosis were got by venn diagrams.Cytoscape 3.6.1 was used to construct ingredients-disease-targets networks.Then protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis of ingredients-disease-targets was builed in STRING database, and was visualized by Cytoscape 3.6.1, then important modules were analyzed with Moleculaar complex detection(MCODE). Biological information annotation databases (DAVID) was used to carry on gene ontology (GO) analysis and enrichment analysis of gene encyclopedia kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway. Result::A total of 38 active ingredients and 266 potential targets of modified Erzhiwan combined with epimedium were obtained from TCMSP and BATMAN-TCM, 254 atherosclerosis-related targets were retrieved from disease database.Then 52 common targets were obtained and 14 core genes were screened.Biological processes were related to inflammatory response, regulation of insulin secretion, positive regulation of nitric oxide biosynthetic process, etc.The biological pathways mainly included tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, NF-kappa B(NF-κB)signaling pathway, peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors signaling pathway and so on. Conclusion::Modified Erzhiwan combined with epimedium may play the anti-atherosclerosis role by estrogen-like effect through attach estrogen receptor, inhibiting inflammation and improving insulin resistance, which may provide guidance for further experimental research.

Effects of Horticultural Therapy on Upper-limb Function and Cognition in Stroke Hemiplegic Patients / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective:To explore the effects of horticultural therapy on upper limb function and cognitive impairment of hemiplegic patients after stroke. Methods:From June, 2017 to March, 2019, 60 hemiplegic stroke patients were randomly divided into control group(n = 30) and experimental group (n = 30). All the patients accetped routine rehabilitation, while the experimental group received group-based horticulture therapy in addition, for eight weeks. They were assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), modified Barthel Index (MBI) and Montreal Cognition Assessment (MoCA) before and after intervention. Results:The scores of all the assessment improved in both groups after intervention (|t| > 8.077, P < 0.001), and improved more in the experimental group than in the control group (|t| > 2.293, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Horticultural therapy can promote the recovery of upper-limb and cognitive function after stroke.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation can relieve dysphagia after stroke / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To explore the effect of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on activity in the intact motor cortex controlling the suprahyoid muscles and thus on dysphagia after an unilateral stroke.Methods Forty patients suffering dysphagia more than two weeks after a unilateral cerebral stroke were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group,each of 20.Both groups were given traditional swallowing rehabilitation training,while the experimental group was additionally provided with 5 Hz rTMS for two weeks.Before and after the treatment,all of the patients were characterized using X-ray fluoroscopy,video fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) and surface electromyography,and their swallowing was evaluated using a standardized swallowing assessment (SSA) and a penetration-aspiration scale (PAS).Results After the treatment,significant improvement was observed in both groups in the average swallowing time and in the maximum amplitude of sEMG,as well as the average SSA,PAS and VFSS scores (P＜0.05).The average values in the experimental group were in all cases significantly better than the control group's averages (P＜0.05).Conclusion Applying rTMS at 5 Hz to the motor cortex of the contralateral hemisphere controlling the suprahyoid muscles can effectively improve unilateral-hemisphere dysphagia after stroke.

Effects of dendritic cell-based adoptive immunotherapy with over-expressed SOCS1 on Th17- and Treg-related cytokines in the BALF of COPD mice / 医学研究生学报

Objective　Dendritic cells (DCs), helper T cells 17 (Th17) and regulatory T cells (Treg) are closely related to the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study aimed to investigate the changes of Th17- and Treg-related cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of COPD mice after DC-based adoptive immunotherapy with over-expressed suppressor of cytokine signaling protein 1 (SOCS1) and provide some new ideas for the treatment of COPD.　Methods　A total of 48 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: healthy control, COPD model control, immature DC (imDC), DC-SOCS1 1×106, and DC-SOCS1 2×106. The healthy controls were exposed to air and fed normally, the COPD model controls injected with normal saline at 0.5 mL/ on the first day of modeling by fumigation, the mice of the imDC group injected via the tail vein with 1 ×106 imDCs, and those of the DC-SOCS1 groups injected with 1 ×106 or 2 ×106 DCs with over expressed SOCS1, all via the tail vein on the 1st and 7th day of modeling. Then the lung tissues were collected from the mice for preparation of paraffin sections and HE staining, and ELISA was employed for determination of the levels of Th17-related IL-17 and IL-23 and Treg-related IL-10 and TGF-β in the BALF of the model mice.　Results　Compared with the COPD model controls, the mice in the imDC, DC-SOCS1 1×106 and DC-SOCS1 2×106 groups showed significantly decreased levels of IL-17 on the 1st day ([78.87 ± 1.08] vs [46.46 ± 0.77], [34.09 ± 3.98] and [24.12 ± 0.57] pg/mL, P < 0.05) and 7th day after modeling ([78.87 ± 1.08] vs [55.69 ±0.35], [35.65 ± 0.54] and [27.00 ± 0.58] pg/mL, P < 0.05), and IL-23 on the 1st day ([200.62 ± 0.65] vs [150.19 ± 0.53], [121.09 ± 0. 53] and [70.21 ± 0.91] pg/mL, P < 0.05) and 7th day ([200.62 ± 0.65] vs [167.70 ± 1.73], [136.34 ± 0.90] and [99.35 ± 1.83] pg/mL, P < 0.05), but remarkably increased levels of IL-10 on the 1st day ([39.46 ± 3.88] vs [50.74 ± 1.77], [58.71 ± 3.84] and [70.12 ± 2.62] pg/mL, P < 0.05) and 7th day ([39.46 ± 3.88] vs [44.56 ± 2.63], [54.78 ± 1.43] and [63.00 ± 2.57] pg/mL, P < 0.05), TGF-β on the 1st day ([24.98 ± 0.43] vs [36.46 ± 0.98], [42.40 ± 0.62] and [50.55 ± 0.53] pg/mL, P < 0.05) and 7th day ([24.98 ± 0.43] vs [33.27 ± 0.92], [40.12 ± 0.83] and [44.98 ± 0.52] pg/mL, P < 0.05). The contents of IL-17 and IL-23 were markedly lower while those of IL-10 and TGF-β higher in the DC-SOCS1 1×106 than in the imDC group (P < 0.05), and the levels of the former two significantly higher and those of the latter two lower in the DC-SOCS1 2×106 than in the DC-SOCS1 1×106 group (P < 0.05).　Conclusion　Transfusion of DCs with over-expressed SOCS1 can inhibit the secretion of Th17-related cytokines in COPD, and the effect is better than that of imDCs alone and related to the concentration and time.

Alpha Angle as a Predictor of Impending Contralateral Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis in an Asian Population

BACKGROUND: Prophylactic pinning of the uninvolved side after unilateral slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is controversial. The alpha angle, a measurement of femoral head-neck aspherity, was proposed as a predictor of progression of contralateral SCFE with a treatment threshold of greater than 50.5°. The aim of this study was to evaluate its validity in our cohort of patients. METHODS: A retrospective review of a 10-year series of patients who presented with unilateral SCFE was conducted. Minimum follow-up duration to identify contralateral progression was 18 months. Age, sex, ethnicity, and endocrinopathies were noted. Alpha angle measurements of the unaffected hip were performed by two independent observers. The average values of measurements were used for analysis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of contralateral progression. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was generated. RESULTS: There were 43 patients with unilateral SCFE. Seven patients (16.3%) developed contralateral SCFE. There were 31 males (72.1%) and 12 females (27.9%). The mean duration from index surgery to contralateral fixation was 43.9 weeks (range, 16.2 to 77 weeks). The mean alpha angle was significantly higher in the patients with contralateral progression (mean, 50.7°; standard deviation [SD], 5.4°; range, 43.8° to 58.5°) than in the patients without progression (mean, 43.0°; SD, 4.2°; range, 33.0° to 52.5°; p < 0.001). The alpha angle was also identified as a statistically significant predictor of contralateral progression on multivariate analysis (p = 0.02). The intraclass correlation coefficient for interobserver reliability was moderately strong at 0.76 (95% confidence interval, 0.55 to 0.87). The area under the ROC curve was 0.88. The treatment threshold of 50.5° had a sensitivity of 0.43, specificity of 0.94, and number needed to treat (NNT) of 2.7. The ideal treatment threshold derived from the ROC curve was 49.0°, which had a sensitivity of 0.71, specificity of 0.89, and an NNT of 1.7. CONCLUSIONS: Alpha angle is a potential predictor of contralateral hip involvement in children with SCFE who may benefit from prophylactic hip fixation. Results from our series suggest a treatment threshold be 49.0°. However, given the limited sample size and moderately strong interobserver reliability, larger studies are needed to validate our findings.

Prevalence and determinants of childhood obesity in Haikou, China: A cross-sectional study

Objective: To identify the prevalence and factors of rapidly increasing childhood obesity in Haikou, China. Methods: A total of 11 497 students from 227 classes in primary and secondary schools of Haikou were surveyed by questionnaires from October 2013 to December 2014 using the Stratified Random Cluster Sampling method. Height and weight of the students were measured. A total of 8 458 children aged 7-15 years old were selected for the prevalence analyzing of overweight/obesity and 7 836 for logistic stepwise regression analysis. Results: The rate of overweight and obesity were 10.5% and 7.4%, respectively. Out of the 33 investigated factors, 17 were associated with childhood obesity (P1) and 8 beneficial factors (OR<1). Birth weight (macrosomia), parent's obesity are the top three risk factors and children's breakfast hobby (soybean milk) and food taste (sweet), favorite diet style of the family (stewing) are beneficial factors. Conclusions: The overweight/obesity rate is already at a high level and early interventions are needed. The necessary tasks are to strengthen education on parents and children with prevention knowledge, appropriately reduce the learning burden, and control the average time of watching TV to less than 3 h a day.

Penile erectile strength measurement band for differentiation and classification of erectile dysfunction / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>Objective</b>To study the clinical application value of the penile erectile strength measurement (PESM) band in the differentiation of psychogenic from organic erectile dysfunction (ED).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty ED patients unable to achieve or maintain adequate penile erection to complete sexual intercourse were included in the experimental group and another 40 healthy subjects with normal erectile function enrolled as controls. The ED cases were classified into mild, moderate and severe ED according to the IIEF-5 scores and divided into psychogenic and organic ED based on the results of the nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) test. Then all the subjects underwent a three-night continuous monitoring with the PESM band and, according to the band fracture rate, the ED cases were also classified into psychogenic and organic ED. The rates of missed diagnosis, misdiagnosis and diagnostic coincidence of PESM were calculated with the results of NPT as the standard for differentiating psychogenic from organic ED.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results of NPT tests revealed 51 cases of psychogenic and 29 cases of organic ED in the experimental group. The band fracture rate in PESM was 95.0% in the mild, 80.9% in the moderate and 52.8% in the severe ED patients. Of the 51 cases of psychogenic ED detected by NPT test, 43 were diagnosed as psychogenic and the other 8 as organic ED with the PESM band, with a coincidence rate of 84.3%. Of the 29 cases of organic ED revealed by NPT test, 5 were diagnosed as psychogenic and the other 24 as organic ED by PESM, with a coincidence rate of 82.8%. Normal erectile function with three-level fracture of the band was observed in the PESM of the normal controls, which showed a coincidence rate of 100% with the results of NPT tests. Based on the standard of the NPT test, the rates of missed diagnosis, misdiagnosis and diagnostic coincidence of the PESM band in differentiating psychogenic from organic ED were 15.7%, 17.2%, and 83.8%, respectively, with a Kappa value of 0.656 (P <0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The penile erectile strength measurement band can be used as a screening tool for initial differentiation of psychogenic from organic ED.</p>

Application of Pulmonary Vein Deployment Technique for Percutaneous Closure of Atrial Septal Defect Solely Under Echocardiography Guidance / 中国循环杂志

Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of pulmonary vein deployment technique for percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects (ASD) solely under echocardiography guidance. Methods: A total of 38 ASD patients received pulmonary vein deployment in our hospital from 2012-10 to 2016-09 since the conventional method could not deliver the occluder to correct place. The patients were with the mean age at (16.0±15.6) years, body weight at (37.2±22.9) kg and ASD diameter at (17.1±4.2) mm. Operative effect was assessed by echocardiography. Follow-up study was conducted at 1, 3, 6, 12 months post-operation and at each year thereafter. Results: 37 patients were successfully finished pulmonary vein deployment for percutaneous closure of ASD solely under echocardiography guidance. One patient was successfully treated by a controlled steerable sheath. The mean operative time was (25.2±5.1) min and mean diameter of ASD occluder was (22.9±5.6) mm. 2 patients had trivial residual shunt at the early post-operative stage. No peripheral vascular injury, pulmonary vein and cardiac perforation occurred. All 38 patients were recovered and discharged. The average in-hospital time was (2.9±0.7) days. The patients were followed-up for (23.9±15.4) months, without complications of residual shunt, pericardial effusion, aortic regurgitation and pulmonary vein stenosis. Conclusion: Pulmonary vein deployment technique for percutaneous closure of ASD solely under echocardiography guidance was safe and effective; it can avoid radiation damage and provided a simple and practical method for ASD patients who failed to conventional method under echocardiography guidance.

Circumcision reduces the incidence of human papillomavirus infection in men / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>Objective</b>To investigate the association of circumcision with the incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in men.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We collected the samples from the surface of the coronal sulcus, glans penis, penile shaft and scrotum of 351 males examined for HPV infection in our hospital from January 2016 to August 2017, of whom 118 had received circumcision while the other 233 had not. We compared the incidence rate of HPV infection between the circumcision and non-circumcision groups and analyzed the association of the age of circumcision with the incidence of HPV infection.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HPV infection was found in 135 (38.46%) of the males, 29 (24.58%) in the circumcision group and 106 (45.49%) in the non-circumcision group, significantly lower in the former than in the latter (χ² = 14.48, P < 0.01). The incidence rate of HPV infection was also remarkably lower in the males circumcised at ≤17 years (13.16% ［5/38］) than in those circumcised at >17 years of age (30.0% ［24/80］) (χ² = 3.942, P = 0.047).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Male circumcision helps reduce the incidence rate of HPV infection in men and earlier surgery may achieve even better effect.</p>

Diagnostic value of baseline serum luteinizing hormone level for central precocious puberty in girls / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the diagnostic value of baseline serum luteinizing hormone (LH) level for central precocious puberty (CPP) in girls.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 279 girls with precocious puberty were subjected to assessment of growth and development, bone age determination, baseline LH test, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) test, gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test, and other related examinations. Of the 279 patients, 175 were diagnosed with CPP and 104 with premature thelarche (PT). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of baseline LH and FSH levels and their peak levels for CPP, and the correlation between the baseline LH level and the peak LH level was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The CPP group had significantly higher bone age, baseline LH and FSH levels, peak LH and FSH levels, and ratio of peak LH level to peak FSH level than the PT group (P<0.01). The ROC curve proved that baseline LH level and peak LH level had good diagnostic values for CPP. Among the three bone age subgroups in the CPP group (7.0-9.0 years, 9.0-11.0 years, and >11.0 years), baseline LH level showed the best diagnostic value in the >11.0 years subgroup, with the largest area under the ROC curve. At a baseline LH level of 0.45 IU/L, the Youden index reached the peak value, and the sensitivity and specificity were 66.7% and 80% respectively, for the diagnosis of CPP. At a peak LH level of 9.935 IU/L, the Youden index reached the peak value, and the sensitivity and specificity were 74.8% and 100% respectively, for the diagnosis of CPP. The baseline LH level was positively correlated with the peak LH level (r=0.440, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Baseline LH level can be used as an primary screening index for the diagnosis of CPP. It has a certain diagnostic value for CPP at different bone ages, and may be used as a monitoring index during the treatment and follow-uP.</p>

Efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine combined with sildenafil in the treatment of ED in Chinese men： A real-world study / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To make a real-world study on the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combined with sildenafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) that failed to respond to TCM medication.@*METHODS@#This study included 1 038 ED patients with the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) scores ≤21 and improvement <30% after 4 weeks of TCM medication, differentially diagnosed with kidney-yang or kidney-yin deficiency syndrome. We administered TCM combined with sildenafil (Viagra, Pfizer Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd) at 100 mg 1 hour before sexual intercourse. After 2 and 4 weeks of medication, we recorded the scores in IIEF-5, erection hardness, Sexual Encounter Profile question 2 (SEP-2: whether vaginal penetration is successful), SEP-3 (whether sexual intercourse is successful), and TCM Syndromes Scale as well as the indexes of routine blood, urine, liver function, and renal function of the patients, and compared them with those obtained before treatment.@*RESULTS@#No serious adverse reactions were observed in any of the patients. Compared with the baseline, the patients achieved significantly increased IIEF-5 scores after 2 and 4 weeks of medication (15.01 ± 2.25 vs 16.96 ± 2.55 and 19.41 ± 2.82, P <0.05), penileelectionhardness remarkably improved at 4 weeks (3.36% vs 44.58%, P<0.05), and the positive answers to SEP-2 and SEP-3 both markedly increased at 2 (38.11% vs 90.49%, P<0.05; 22.01% vs 63.77% , P<0.05) and 4 weeks (38.11% vs 96.95% , P<0.05; 22.01% vs 89.73%, P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#TCM combined with sildenafil is safe and effective in the treatment of ED in Chinese men, which can significantly improve the IIEF-5 score and erection hardness of the patients.

Value of the serum free testosterone level in detecting erectile dysfunction / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the values of serum calculated free testosterone (cFT), testosterone secretion index (TSI), and free testosterone index (FTI) in the diagnosis of ED with androgen deficiency by observing their changes in the patient.@*METHODS@#We conducted this study among 185 men complaining of ED and 35 20－40 years old healthy males presenting at the clinic for premarital medical checkup. We asked them about their medical history, to fill in the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) Questionnaire, and to complete the nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) test. According to the data obtained, 150 of the complainants were diagnosed as ED patients and 25 of the healthy examinees were included in the control group. We determined the levels of total serum testosterone (TT), luteinizing hormone (LH), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), serum albumin (ALB), cFT, bio-available testosterone (bio-T), TSI, and FTI in the two groups of subjects. Using cFT ≤0.3 nmol/L, TSI ≤2.8, and FTI ≤0.4 as the critical values and TT ≤11.5 nmol/L as the gold standard for androgen deficiency, we calculated cFT-, TSI-, and FTI-related rates of missed diagnosis, misdiagnosis, and diagnostic coincidence.@*RESULTS@#With TT ≤11.5 nmol/L as the criterion, the cFT-, TSI-, and FTI-related rates of coincidence in the diagnosis of androgen deficiency in the ED patients were 90.8%, 85.8%, and 80.8%, those of missed diagnosis were 4.0%, 33.3%, and 44.0%, and those of misdiagnosis were 10.5%, 19.4%, and 12.6%, with the Kappa of values 0.755, 0.564, and 0.427, respectively (P <0.05). The levels of serum TT, cFT, Bio-T, TSI, and FTI were decreased with increased age of the 20－40 years old ED patients, with statistically significant differences among different age groups except the serum TT level. However, no statistically significant differences were found in the levels of TT, cFT, Bio-T, TSI, and FTI among the patients with different IIEF-5 scores.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The level of cFT has a higher value than those of TT, TSI, and TSI in the diagnosis of ED with androgen deficiency in 20－40 years old men.

Comparative Study Between Complete Ultrasound Guidance and Radiation Guidance in Percutaneous Balloon Pulmonary Valvuloplasty / 中国循环杂志

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound guidance for percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (PBPV) in comparison with conventional X-ray guidance.Methods:Our research included in 2 groups:Ultrasound group,n=102 patients with PBPV under ultrasound guidance in our hospital from 2013-03 to 2016-08 and X-ray group,n=280 patients with PBPV under traditional X-ray guidance in our hospital at the same period of time.Post-operative effect was evaluated by echocardiography and compared between 2 groups.Results:The patients' age,body weight,pulmonary artery diameter,immediate post-operative pulmonary transvalvular pressure gradient (PTPG),the in-hospital time and cost were similar between 2 groups,P＞0.05.The success rate of operation in Ultrasound group and X-ray group was 99.0％ vs 100％,P=0.267.In the ultrasound group,1 patient was converted to a conventional surgery due to right ventricular outflow tract muscle spasm after dilation.The operation time in X-ray group was longer than Ultrasound group,(38.9±9.2) min vs (34.6±10.0) min,P＜0.001.The X-ray exposure time was (3.9±1.2) min in X-ray group.The mean follow-up time was (25.5±13.2) months and PTPG in Ultrasound group and X-ray group were (16.2±4.3) mmHg and (15.3±4.5) mmHg,P=0.120.No serious complications as death,peripheral vascular injury,cardiac perforation and pericardial effusion occurred in either group.Conclusion:PBPV under complete ultrasound guidance may not only avoid radiation and contrast agent,but also keep the safety and efficacy of minimally invasive conventional percutaneous interventional treatment.

Comparative Study Between Complete Ultrasound Guidance and Radiation Guidance in Percutaneous Balloon Pulmonary Valvuloplasty / 中国循环杂志

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound guidance for percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (PBPV) in comparison with conventional X-ray guidance.Methods:Our research included in 2 groups:Ultrasound group,n=102 patients with PBPV under ultrasound guidance in our hospital from 2013-03 to 2016-08 and X-ray group,n=280 patients with PBPV under traditional X-ray guidance in our hospital at the same period of time.Post-operative effect was evaluated by echocardiography and compared between 2 groups.Results:The patients' age,body weight,pulmonary artery diameter,immediate post-operative pulmonary transvalvular pressure gradient (PTPG),the in-hospital time and cost were similar between 2 groups,P＞0.05.The success rate of operation in Ultrasound group and X-ray group was 99.0％ vs 100％,P=0.267.In the ultrasound group,1 patient was converted to a conventional surgery due to right ventricular outflow tract muscle spasm after dilation.The operation time in X-ray group was longer than Ultrasound group,(38.9±9.2) min vs (34.6±10.0) min,P＜0.001.The X-ray exposure time was (3.9±1.2) min in X-ray group.The mean follow-up time was (25.5±13.2) months and PTPG in Ultrasound group and X-ray group were (16.2±4.3) mmHg and (15.3±4.5) mmHg,P=0.120.No serious complications as death,peripheral vascular injury,cardiac perforation and pericardial effusion occurred in either group.Conclusion:PBPV under complete ultrasound guidance may not only avoid radiation and contrast agent,but also keep the safety and efficacy of minimally invasive conventional percutaneous interventional treatment.