Efficacy and safety of Buyang Huanwu decoction for diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a systematic review and Metaanalysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Buyang Huanwu decoction (BYHWD) in treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). METHODS: Eight electronic databases, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Wanfang Database, China Science and Technology Journal Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, and PubMed, were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of BYHWD to treat DPN. We identified all RCTs related to BYHWD and those on the treatment of DPN with the combination of mecobalamin. RevMan software was used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: Twentyone RCTs with a total of 1945 patients were included. The methodological quality of the literature included was low. Metaanalysis showed that the efficacy of the treatment group was significantly better than that of the control group in the treatment of DPN with BYHWD [risk ratio () = 0.33, 95% (0.27, 0.40), 11.25, 0.000 01]. The median nerve of median motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) [mean difference () = 4.16, 95% (1.35, 6.98)] and median sensory NCV (SNCV) [(= 3.28, 95% (2.35, 4.22)] were improved in the treatment group. The MNCV in the common peroneal nerve [(= 1.63, 95% (0.39, 2.87)] and SNCV [(= 4.56, 95% (3.16, 5.97)] were significantly higher than those in the control group ( 0.01). Plasma viscosity [(= －0.15, 95% (－0.20, －0.09), 5.17, 0.01)], whole blood high shear [(= 0.83, 95% (1.56, －0.11), 2.26, 0.02)]and whole blood low shear [(= 1.61, 95% (2.28, 0.94), 4.68, 0.01)] decreased significantly after treatment. There was no significant difference in fasting blood glucose [(= 0.42, 95% ( 0.89, 0.05), 1.76, 0.08)] between the treatment and control groups; postprandial blood glucose [(= 0.62, 95% ( 1.19, 0.05), 2.12, 0.03)] decreased significantly. No significant difference was found in the blood lipid levels between the treatment and control groups, including triglycerides [(= 0.21, 95% (0.52, 0.10), 1.34, 0.18)] and cholesterol [(= 0.13, 95% ( 0.27, 0.00), 1.92, 0.06)]. Of the 21 RCTs, only five reported adverse reactions, and four studies reported the length of followup. No serious adverse events were reported. None of the studies reported the quality of life and economic conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that BYHWD has a significant therapeutic effect on DPN. Highquality, largescale RCTs are needed to provide more reliable evidence.

Investigation on students' active learning behavior during independent experimental design education of medical function / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Objective:To evaluate the teaching effectiveness of independent experimental design from students' active learning behavior, and further provide the basis for advancing the reform of functional experimental teaching and teaching quality.Methods:In June 2019, 186 undergraduates (5-year-programme and 8-year-programme) of Xiangya School of Medicine were included in the teaching research. Self-administered questionnaires were applied to characterize students' active learning behavior in independent experimental design education. Spearman rank correlation analysis and Logistic regression analysis were used in the study. SPSS 23.0 was used for descriptive analysis of the data.Results:During the independent experimental design, 85.0%(158/186) of the students thought it was necessary and important to conduct independent experimental design education; 72.6%(135/186) of the students tentatively raised new scientific questions; 97.8%(182/186) of the students actively searched literature; 77.4%(144/186) of the students participated in reply positively. The value of correlation coefficient of actively learning behavior "tentatively raising new science questions" and teaching effectiveness "improving the ability of scientific thinking" was 0.81. And only 42.5%(79/186) of the students agreed that students needed to summarize after reporting.Conclusion:Independent experimental design education is welcomed and widely accepted by students, which has effectively improved the capacity for scientific research and innovation spirit of students. Whether students' active learning behavior can be fully mobilized in the education practice is closely related to the teaching effect. And the cultivation of leadership and leading consciousness still need to be improved.

Effects of a blood flow restriction exercise under different pressures on testosterone, growth hormone, and insulin-like growth factor levels.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes in serum growth hormone (GH), testosterone, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) during low-intensity resistance exercise under different cuff pressures. METHODS: We performed a single-blind, cross-over design study. Twenty-five healthy young men performed three exercise protocols as follows: 1) no blood flow restriction exercise (control group), 2) resistance exercise at 40% of arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) (low group), and 3) resistance exercise at 70% of AOP (high group). Blood lactate, GH, testosterone, and IGF-1 levels were measured at four time points. RESULTS: There were no differences in the indices before exercise. The blood flow restriction exercise under different pressures had different effects on each index and there was an interactive effect. GH levels were significantly higher in the high group than in the other groups after exercise. Immediately after exercise, IGF-1 and testosterone levels were significantly higher in the high group than in the other groups. At 15 minutes after exercise, testosterone levels were significantly higher in the high group than in the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Low-intensity resistance exercise combined with blood flow restriction effectively increases GH, IGF-1, and testosterone levels in young men. Increasing the cuff pressure results in greater levels of hormone secretion.

Characteristics of rehabilitation therapy for patients with total knee replacement / 中国组织工程研究

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the influencing factor, as well as rehabilitation method after total knee replacement.METHODS: Chinese Journal Full-text Database and PubMed database were retrieved with key words of artificial knee joint, athroplasty, and rehabilitation, from January 1999 to June 2009. The literature search was restricted to Chinese and English languages. The evaluation indexes were the knee range of movement, function, muscle strength, and joint stability. Accordingly, clinical research concerning rehabilitation treatment of total knee replacement was included, and the animal experiment was excluded.RESULTS: A total of 492 literatures were obtained by initial search with computer. On the basis of inclusion criteria, the related papers were analyzed. Rehabilitation training after total knee replacement includes pain control, joint activity training, strength training, proprioceptive training and walking training. Knee movement range was one of the important indicators in evaluating total knee replacement, which was also the most important component in the knee-rating system. Pain reduced and normal walking function was important to observe the therapeutic effects after total knee replacement. Strength training was an important part of rehabilitation training, early rehabilitation not only can regain the muscle strength, but also can promote blood circulation and prevent deep vein thrombosis of lower limbs.CONCLUSION: Rehabilitation training can restore muscle strength, joint activity and walking ability as quickly as possible, and control pain greatly, which influence therapeutic effects of replacement.

Role of losartan in angiotensin Ⅱ-induced oxidative stress in rat renal tubular epithelial cells / 中华肾脏病杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of losartan on angiotensin (Ang)Ⅱ-induced the generation of oxidative stress and expression of transforming growth factor β1(TGF-β1) in rat proximal tubular epithelial cells and to explore its underlying mechanism. MethodsNRK-52E cells, a rat proximal tubular epithelial cell line, were applied to explore the antioxidationand antifibrosis of losartan. The expression of three subunits of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, including p47phox, Nox-4, p22phox, and TGF-β1 were determined by real-time RT-PCR and/or Western blot. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured by DCF fluorescence analysis. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the supernatant was measured by colorimetric method. Results10-7 mol/L Ang Ⅱ up-regulated p22prox, p47phox and Nox-4 mRNA and protein expression, and the mRNA increased by 5.57-fold, 5.55-fold and 9.41-fold at 24 h (P<0.01, respectively) and the protein increased by 4.53-fold, 4.17-fold and 6.50-fold at 24 h (P<0.01, respectively) as compared with control. Losartan greatly reduced the mRNA elevation of p22prox, p47phox and Nox-4 by 2.71-fold, 2.18-fold and 5.23-fold (P<0.01, respectively) and reduced the protein elevation by 3.20-fold, 2.30-fold and 4.30-fold (P<0.01, respectively) as compared with control. Losartan also inhibited ROS generation induced by Ang Ⅱ in rat proximal tubular epithelial cells. SOD level in the supernatant was markedly decreased after Ang Ⅱ stimulation, while losartan could increase SOD levels (P<0.01). Furthermore, losartan signficantly inhibited Ang Ⅱ-induced TGF-β1 mRNA up-regulation by 64% (P<0.01). ConclusionsLosartan acts as an anti-oxidative and anti-fibrotic agent via the mechanisms of blocking NADPH oxidase-dependent oxidative stress and inhibiting TGF-β1 expression.