Regulating spleen and stomach can improve bone and joint function of knee osteoarthritis patients complicated with osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine the influences of spleen and stomach conditioning treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) on patients with both knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and osteoporosis (OP). METHODS: The medical records of 108 patients with both KOA and OP treated in Wuhan No. 1 Hospital between February 2020 and December 2021 were retrospectively studied. Among them, 58 patients treated with western medicine alone were assigned to a control group, and 50 patients who received spleen and stomach conditioning treatment in TCM based on western medicine treatment were assigned to an observation group. The efficacy on the two groups was compared. The joint function, pain, inflammatory factors and bone turnover markers in the two groups before and after treatment were analyzed, as well as the incidence of adverse reactions after treatment. The prognosis of the patients at 12 months after treatment was counted, and the influencing factors of poor prognosis were analyzed by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The observation group showed a notably higher total effective rate than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the observation group had notably higher Lysholm score, but notably lower Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores than the control group (all P<0.05). After treatment, the bone turnover markers (beta collagen degradation products (ß-CTx) and procollagen type I amino-terminal propeptide (P1NP)) in both groups decreased notably (P<0.05), with notably lower levels of them in the observation group than those in the control group (both P<0.05). Additionally, after the treatment, the inflammatory indexes (interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)) in both groups decreased notably (all P<0.05), with notably lower levels of them in the observation group than those in the control group (all P<0.05). Moreover, the observation group presented a notably lower incidence of adverse reactions than the control group (P<0.05). The rate of poor prognosis in the observation group was notably lower than that in the control group. According to multiple logistic regression analysis, older age, higher BMI, higher Kellgren-Lawrence grading based on X-ray and history of bone fracture were independent risk factors for poor prognosis, and spleen and stomach conditioning treatment was an independent protective factor. CONCLUSION: Additional TCM spleen and stomach conditioning treatment can substantially improve the efficacy in patients with both KOA and OP by adjusting the inflammatory factors and bone turnover markers of patients, improving their joint function, alleviating their pain, and strongly preventing adverse reactions, so it is of great clinical application value.

The effect of 5-Aminolaevulinic Acid Photodynamic Therapy versus CO2 laser in the Treatment of Cervical Low-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions with High-Risk HPV Infection: A non-randomized, controlled pilot study.

BACKGROUND: There are insufficient studies comparing the efficacy of 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) photodynamic therapy (PDT) against CO2 laser therapy in the treatment of cervical low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV), especially for long-term efficacy. METHODS: Patients with cervical LSIL and HR-HPV infection were divided into two treatment groups based on their own choice. All patients had a follow-up test including HPV testing, cytology and colposcopy at 4-6 months and 12 months after the treatment. RESULTS: (1) Among 277 patients, 176 patients received 5-ALA PDT and 101 patients received CO2 laser therapy. (2) 4-6 months after treatment, there was no significant difference between two groups in the complete remission (CR) rates of cervical LSIL and the clearance rate of HR-HPV infection. (3) 12 months after treatment, compared with the CO2 laser group, the CR rates of cervical LSIL in the 5-ALA PDT group was significantly higher than the CO2 laser group. There was no statistical difference in the clearance rate of HR-HPV infection between the two groups. (4) 12 months after treatment, the recurrence rate of cervical lesions and the reinfection rate of HR-HPV infection in 5-ALA PDT group were significantly lower than those in CO2 laser group. CONCLUSION: The effect of 5-ALA PDT is similar to CO2 laser at 4-6 months. The long-term efficacy of 5-ALA PDT appears better than CO2 laser. As a non-invasive treatment, 5-ALA PDT is a highly effective therapeutic procedure for cervical LSIL with HR-HPV infection.

Effectiveness of photodynamic therapy in women of reproductive age with cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL/CIN2).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the histologic response rate of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL)/cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 (CIN2) of the cervix after photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment in women with fertility requirements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out comprising 31 female patients aged 20-38 years with histologically confirmed HSIL/CIN2 with high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection. Patients were treated with three sessions of 20% 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) PDT at intervals of 7-14 days. All patients had a follow-up including cytology, HPV testing and colposcopy-directed biopsy after PDT treatment at the 6-month and 12-month follow-up points. The main outcome measure was efficacy, defined as complete histologic remission 12 months after PDT. Secondary outcomes were the remission of HPV infection and the adverse effects of PDT treatment. RESULTS: At the 12-month follow-up, 21 out of 27 patients (77.78%) and 4 out of 27 patients (14.81%) showed histologic disappearance and histologic regression, respectively. Only 7.41% (2/27) patients persisted with HSIL/CIN2. In addition, no patients progressed to CIN3 or carcinoma. The total baseline HPV remission rate was 62.96% (17/27). The remission rate of HPV16/18 was statistically significant compared to the other hrHPV (57.14% vs. 100%, p = 0.016) in the group with HISL/CIN2 disappearance. Adverse events were mild, with increased vaginal secretion and abdominal pain being the most common complaints. There was no report of adverse events such as vaginal bleeding, colporrhagia, ulcer, or abdominal pain after PDT treatment. CONCLUSIONS: 5-ALA-PDT shows a favorable efficacy and safety profile and represents a promising alternative to observation and surgical procedures in patients with HSIL/CIN2 who have fertility requirements.

Corrosion Resistance to Chloride of a Novel Stainless Steel: The Threshold Chloride Value and Effect of Surface State.

To evaluate the corrosion resistance of a novel stainless steel intended for use within reinforced concrete (RC) structures exposed to aggressive environments, the threshold chloride concentration of three stainless steels (316, 2205, novel 2205) and two carbon steels (HRB400, HRB500) exposed to pore solutions of fresh concrete was experimentally studied by means of electrochemical methods. The effect of steel surface state on the corrosion resistance was also experimentally investigated. The results showed that the novel stainless steel has a much higher corrosion resistance than those of the carbon steels and stainless steels when subjected to chloride environments. The presence of surface damage leads to significant decrease of corrosion resistance for carbon steel, however the corrosion can be certainly inhibited with the accumulation of rust on the steel surface. Although the oxide layer was worn, the novel 2205 stainless steel still has a great corrosion resistance.

Changes in platelet GPIbα and ADAM17 during the acute stage of atherosclerotic ischemic stroke among Chinese.

Glycoprotein (GP) Ibα ectodomain shedding has important implications for thrombosis and hemostasis. A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17) was identified to play an essential role in agonist induced GPIbα shedding. The relationship of GPIbα shedding and ADAM17 in the acute stage of atherosclerotic ischemic stroke (AIS) patients has not been thoroughly studied. A total of 306 patients and 230 controls matched for age, sex, race, history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus were enrolled in the study. GPIbα, ADAM17, glycocalicin were detected by flow cytometry, Western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively. Compared with the control group, the expression of GPIbα in patients with acute ischemic stroke was significantly lower (P=0.000, P<0.01). Plasma glycocalicin and ADAM17 in AIS group were higher than those in control group (P=0.699, P=0.000). Pearson's analysis showed glycocalicin bore no correlation with GPIbα in AIS patients (r=0.095, P>0.05). GPIbα and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) had negative correlation (r=-0.514, P<0.01). Our findings indicate that ADAM17 may be a risk factor for ischemic stroke in Chinese and the expression of GPIbα can serve as a measure for stroke severity.

[Impacts on chronic fatigue syndrome of qi deficiency syndrome and T cell subgroups in patients treated with acupuncture at selective time].

OBJECTIVE: To verify the clinical efficacy on chronic fatigue syndrome of qi deficiency syndrome treated with acupuncture at selective time and explore the effect mechanism. METHODS: Eighty patients were randomized into a selective-time-acupuncture group and an acupuncture group, 40 cases in each one. Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Hegu (LI 4), Taichong (LR 3), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Zusanli (ST 36) were selected in the two groups. In the selective-time-acupuncture group, acupuncture was used at 9:00am to 11:00am. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was used at any time except in the range from 9:00am to 11:00am. No any manipulation was applied after the arrival of needling sensation. The treatment was given once every day, 10 day treatment made one session and two sessions of treatment were required. The fatigue scale was adopted to evaluate the efficacy before and after treatment in the patients of the two groups. The ratios among CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the peripheral blood were detected before ad b a after treatment. RESULTS: In the acupuncture group, the total score of fatigue and the score of physical fatigue were reduced after treatment as compared with those before treatment (all P<0.05). In the selective-time -acupuncture group, the total score of fatigue, the s core of physical fatigue and the score of mental fatigue after treatment were reduced obviously as compared with those hefore treatment (all P<0. 01). The improvements in the scores of the selective-time-acupuncture group were superior to the acupuncture group (all P<0. 05). The ratio of CD3+ and CD8+ T cells was increased obviously after treatment in the two groups (all P<0. 05) and the ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was reduced obviously in the selective-time-acupuncture group (P<0. 05), which was better than that in the acupuncture group (all P<0.05). The total effective rate was 95.0% (38/40) in the selective-time-acupuncture group, which was better than 80.0% (32/40) in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The acupuncture therapy at selective time is effective in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome of qi deficiency syndrome, which is especially better at relieving mental fatigue. The effect of this therapy is achieved probably by improving the immune function via the regulation of the ratios among CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.