Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(DLBCL),the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma(NHL)worldwide,accounts for 39% and 44% of nodal and extranodal NHL cases in China,respectively1.Standard first-line treatment for...Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(DLBCL),the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma(NHL)worldwide,accounts for 39% and 44% of nodal and extranodal NHL cases in China,respectively1.Standard first-line treatment for DLBCL is chemo-immunotherapy with rituximab,cyclophos-phamide,doxorubicin,vincristine,and prednisone,which cures 50%-60% of patients2.展开更多
Objective This study aimed to analyze the clinical efficacy of the Jianpi Shengxue tablet for treating renal anemia.Methods A total of 200 patients with renal anemia from December 2020 to December 2022 were enrolled a...Objective This study aimed to analyze the clinical efficacy of the Jianpi Shengxue tablet for treating renal anemia.Methods A total of 200 patients with renal anemia from December 2020 to December 2022 were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups.Patients in the control group were treated with polysaccharide-iron complex,and those in the experimental group were administered Jianpi Shengxue tablet.After 8 weeks of continuous treatment,the therapeutic outcomes regarding anemia were compared between the two groups.Results After treatment,the red blood cell(RBC)count,hematocrit(HCT),reticulocyte percentage(RET),ferritin(SF),serum iron(SI),transferrin saturation(TSAT),and serum albumin(ALB)all increased(P<0.01),and the clinical symptom score and total iron binding capacity decreased(P<0.01)in the experimental group.Moreover,the improvements in RBC,HCT,RET,SF,SI,TAST,ALB,and clinical symptoms(fatigue,anorexia,dull skin complexion,numbness of hands and feet)in the experimental group were significantly greater than those in the control group(P<0.05).The total effective rate for treating renal anemia was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group(P<0.01).Conclusion The Jianpi Shengxue tablet demonstrates efficacy in treating renal anemia,leading to significant improvements in the laboratory examination results and clinical symptoms of patients with renal anemia.展开更多
Background:Previously published meta-epidemiological studies focused on Western medicine have identified some trial characteristics that impact the treatment effect of randomized controlled trials(RCTs).Nevertheless,i...Background:Previously published meta-epidemiological studies focused on Western medicine have identified some trial characteristics that impact the treatment effect of randomized controlled trials(RCTs).Nevertheless,it remains unclear if similar associations exist in RCTs on Chinese herbal medicine(CHM).Further,Chinese medicine-related characteristics have not been explored yet.Objective:To investigate trial characteristics related to treatment effect estimates on CHM RCTs.Search strategy:This meta-epidemiological study searched 5 databases for systematic reviews on CHM treatment published between January 2011 and July 2021.Inclusion criteria:An eligible systematic review should only include RCTs of CHM and conduct at least one meta-analysis.Data extraction and analysis:Two reviewers independently conducted data extraction on general characteristics of systematic reviews,meta-analyses and included RCTs.They also assessed the risk of bias of RCTs using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.A two-step approach was used for data analyses.The ratio of odds ratios(ROR) and difference in standardized mean differences (dSMD) with 95%confidence interval (CI) were applied to present the difference in effect estimates for binary and continuous outcomes,respectively.Results:Ninety-one systematic reviews,comprising 1338 RCTs were identified.For binary outcomes,RCTs incorporated with syndrome differentiation (ROR:1.23;95%CI:[1.07,1.39]),adopting Chinese medicine formula (ROR:1.19;95%CI:[1.03,1.34]),with low risk of bias on incomplete outcome data (ROR:1.29;95%CI:[1.06,1.52]) and selective outcome reporting (ROR:1.12;95%CI:[1.01,1.24]),as well as a trial size≥100 (ROR:1.23;95%CI:[1.04,1.42]) preferred to show larger effect estimates.As for continuous outcomes,RCTs with Chinese medicine diagnostic criteria (dSMD:0.23;95%CI:[0.06,0.41]),judged as high/unclear risk of bias on allocation concealment (dSMD:-0.70;95%CI:[-0.99,-0.42]),with low risk of bias on incomplete outcome data (dSMD:0.30;95%CI:[0.18,0.43]),conducted at a single center (dSMD:-0.33;95%CI:[-0.61,-0.05]),not using intention-to-treat analysis (dSMD:-0.75;95%CI:[-1.43,-0.07]),and without funding support (dSMD:-0.22;95%CI:[-0.41,-0.02]) tended to show larger effect estimates.Conclusion:This study provides empirical evidence for the development of a specific critical appraisal tool for risk of bias assessments on CHM RCTs.展开更多
Strong evidence has accumulated to show a correlation between depression symptoms and inflammatory responses.Moreover,anti-inflammatory treatment has shown partial effectiveness in alleviating depression symptoms.Lyci...Strong evidence has accumulated to show a correlation between depression symptoms and inflammatory responses.Moreover,anti-inflammatory treatment has shown partial effectiveness in alleviating depression symptoms.Lycium barbarum polysaccharide(LBP),derived from Goji berries,exhibits notable antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.In our recent double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial,we found that LBP significantly reduced depressive symptoms in adolescents with subthreshold depression.It is presumed that the antidepressant effect of LBP may be associated with its influence on inflammatory cytokines.In the double-blinded randomized controlled trial,we enrolled 29 adolescents with subthreshold depression and randomly divided them into an LBP group and a placebo group.In the LBP group,adolescents were given 300 mg/d LBP.A 6-week follow up was completed by 24 adolescents,comprising 14 adolescents from the LBP group(15.36±2.06 years,3 men and 11 women)and 10 adolescents from the placebo group(14.9±1.6 years,2 men and 8 women).Our results showed that after 6 weeks of treatment,the interleukin-17A level in the LBP group was lower than that in the placebo group.Network analysis showed that LBP reduced the correlations and connectivity between inflammatory factors,which were associated with the improvement in depressive symptoms.These findings suggest that 6-week administration of LBP suppresses the immune response by reducing interleukin-17A level,thereby exerting an antidepressant effect.展开更多
BACKGROUND Low back pain(LBP)is a prevalent issue that orthopedic surgeons frequently address in the outpatient setting.LBP can arise from various causes,with stiffness in the paraspinal muscles being a notable contri...BACKGROUND Low back pain(LBP)is a prevalent issue that orthopedic surgeons frequently address in the outpatient setting.LBP can arise from various causes,with stiffness in the paraspinal muscles being a notable contributor.The administration of Botulinum toxin type A(BoNT-A)has been found to alleviate back pain by relaxing these stiff muscles.While BoNT-A is approved for use in numerous conditions,a limited number of randomized clinical trials(RCTs)validate its efficacy specifically for treating LBP.AIM To study the safety and the efficacy of BoNT-A in minimizing pain and improving functional outcomes in patients of chronic LBP(CLBP).METHODS In this RCT,adults aged 18-60 years with mechanical LBP persisting for at least six months were enrolled.Participants were allocated to either the Drug group,receiving 200 Ipsen Units(2 mL)of BoNT-A,or the Control group,which received a 2 mL placebo.Over a 2-month follow-up period,both groups were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale(VAS)for pain intensity and the Oswestry Disability Index(ODI)for disability at the start and conclusion of the study.A decrease in pain by 50%was deemed clinically significant.RESULTS The study followed 40 patients for two months,with 20 in each group.A clinically significant reduction in pain was observed in 36 participants.There was a statistically significant decrease in both VAS and ODI scores in the groups at the end of two months.Nonetheless,when comparing the mean score changes,only the reduction in ODI scores(15 in the placebo group vs 16.5 in the drug group,clinically insignificant)was statistically significant(P=0.012),whereas the change in mean VAS scores was not significant(P=0.45).CONCLUSION The study concludes that BoNT-A does not offer a short-term advantage over placebo in reducing pain or improving LBP scores in CLBP patients.展开更多
The oscillating hydrofoil represents a promising technology for harvesting energy from tidal currents.While previous research has primarily focused on oscillating hydrofoils utilizing a fully activated control strateg...The oscillating hydrofoil represents a promising technology for harvesting energy from tidal currents.While previous research has primarily focused on oscillating hydrofoils utilizing a fully activated control strategy,the industry predominantly employs a semi-activated control strategy in existing tidal current energy converters.It is essential to identify the differences in predicted energy-harvesting performance between these two controlling strategies through experimental modeling or numerical studies.Furthermore,the suitability of the fully activated control strategy in predicting the energy-harvesting capabilities of oscillating hydrofoils is evaluated.The 2D numerical models of hydrofoil based on fully activated and semi-activated control strategies have been developed and validated.The amplitudes of heaving and pitching movements for the fully activated hydrofoil are determined to match those of the semi-activated hydrofoil.The results show that the main difference between the two control strategies lies in the phase shift occurring between the pitching and heaving motions.This phase shift affects the lift force and its coordination with the heaving velocity,which in turn affects the power output.Notably,the maximum relative efficiency difference obtained between the fully activated and semi-activated control strategies can reach 191%.展开更多
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the efficacy and safety of Angong Jiangya pill(AGJY,安宫降压丸)in the treatment of grade 2 hypertension with liver-fire hyperactivity syndrome.METHODS:This multicenter,randomized,double-blind,...OBJECTIVE:To investigate the efficacy and safety of Angong Jiangya pill(AGJY,安宫降压丸)in the treatment of grade 2 hypertension with liver-fire hyperactivity syndrome.METHODS:This multicenter,randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled trial was conducted in eight medical institutions.Eligible patients with grade 2 hypertension were randomly allocated to receive AGJY or a placebo for 12 weeks.The primary outcome was the change in blood pressure(BP).The secondary outcomes were BP compliance rate,Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)symptoms,and Duchenne Hypertension Quality of Life Scale score.RESULTS:Data were analyzed for 117 participants in the AGJY group and 118 participants in the placebo group.After 12 weeks of treatment,AGJY compared with placebo resulted in a higher and significant reduction in systolic/diastolic BP(-15.58±10.16/-9.72±7.41 vs-8.13±8.28/-4.86±5.68 mm Hg,P<0.0001,<0.0001,respectively).BP compliance rate(31.86%vs 19.13%,P=0.027)was significantly higher in the AGJY group than in the placebo group.The AGJY group showed a significant reduction in TCM symptom score compared with the placebo group(10.82±2.03 vs 7.83±1.24,P<0.0001).Single TCM syndrome clinical control rates of the primary symptoms(dizziness,headache,and irritability)were superior in the AGJY group(71.95%,94.62%,72.53%,respectively)compared with the placebo group(48.39%,68.00%,30.52%,respectively).Scores on the Duchenne Hypertension Quality of Life Scale showed a significant increase in the AGJY group compared with the placebo group(30.65±21.06 vs 9.96±10.72,P=0.000).No serious adverse events occurred.CONCLUSION:AGJY demonstrated efficacy in lowering BP,increasing the rate of BP compliance,and improving TCM symptoms and quality of life in patients with grade 2 hypertension liver-fire hyperactivity syndrome.However,further in-depth studies are required to determine the mechanism of TCM in treating hypertension.展开更多
Objective:To evaluate the impact of subcutaneous tunneling on peripherally inserted central catheters(PICCs)dislodgement and malposition.Dislodged or malpositioned PICCs can lead to improper treatment.The subcutaneous...Objective:To evaluate the impact of subcutaneous tunneling on peripherally inserted central catheters(PICCs)dislodgement and malposition.Dislodged or malpositioned PICCs can lead to improper treatment.The subcutaneous tunneling strategy may be effective,but there is insufficient evidence,and proximal movement has not been explored.Methods:We randomized 630 patients who needed PICCs placement to either the tunneled PICCs(experimental group)or the non-tunneled PICCs(control group).Dislodgement and malposition of the catheter were the primary outcomes,and catheter-related infection(CRI)and catheter-related thrombosis(CRT)were the secondary outcomes.Results:Subcutaneous tunneling does not significantly reduce distal catheter movement,but it significantly reduces proximal catheter movement(4.3%vs.9.9%,P=0.007),which may explain the lower incidence of CRI(2.0%vs.5.3%,P=0.030)and CRT(3.6%vs.12.5%,P<0.001).Conclusions:Although subcutaneous tunneling does not significantly improve catheter prolapse,it should still be used clinically because proximal catheter movement can be a more serious problem associated with CRI and CRT.展开更多
Under the background of the strategic goal of"double carbon,"the carbon reduction and consumption reduction of the iron and steel industry,especially in the ironmaking process,need to be further improved.The...Under the background of the strategic goal of"double carbon,"the carbon reduction and consumption reduction of the iron and steel industry,especially in the ironmaking process,need to be further improved.The raceway of tuyere provides the chemical environment,fuel and power source for blast furnace smelting.The research on the characteristics of its action mode and mechanism is of great significance to clarify the way of reducing carbon and consumption of blast furnace.In general,the formation mechanism,energy distribution,research progress,extended resource injection and directional regulation are studied and expounded.The research results of various scholars on the characteristics of the raceway show that the raceway is a complex process including multiphase turbulent flow,heat,momentum,mass and homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reactions.With the development of multi-source fuel injection technology,the complexity of problem research is more obvious.Therefore,the collection of multi-factor,multi-directional and multi-process characteristic information in the raceway can provide guarantee for the stability,smooth operation,high yield,carbon reduction and consumption reduction of blast furnace and provide new ideas for the green and low-carbon development of iron and steel industry.展开更多
This paper deals with reduction of losses in electric power distribution system through a dynamic reconfiguration case study of a grid in the city of Mostar,Bosnia and Herzegovina.The proposed solution is based on a n...This paper deals with reduction of losses in electric power distribution system through a dynamic reconfiguration case study of a grid in the city of Mostar,Bosnia and Herzegovina.The proposed solution is based on a nonlinear model predictive control algorithm which determines the optimal switching operations of the distribution system.The goal of the control algorithm is to find the optimal radial network topology which minimizes cumulative active power losses and maximizes voltages across the network while simultaneously satisfying all system constraints.The optimization results are validated through multiple simulations(using real power demand data collected for a few characteristic days during winter and summer)which demonstrate the efficiency and usefulness of the developed control algorithm in reducing the grid losses by up to 14%.展开更多
BACKGROUND Anxiety is a common comorbidity in patients with Crohn’s disease(CD).Data on the imaging characteristics of brain microstructure and cerebral perfusion in CD with anxiety are limited.AIM To compare the ima...BACKGROUND Anxiety is a common comorbidity in patients with Crohn’s disease(CD).Data on the imaging characteristics of brain microstructure and cerebral perfusion in CD with anxiety are limited.AIM To compare the imaging characteristics of brain microstructure and cerebral perfusion among CD patients with or without anxiety and healthy individuals.METHODS This prospective comparative study enrolled consecutive patients with active CD and healthy individuals who visited the study hospital between January 2022 and January 2023.Anxiety was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety.The imaging characteristics of brain microstructure and cerebral perfusion were measured by diffusion kurtosis imaging and intravoxel incoherent motion.RESULTSA total of 57 participants were enrolled. Among the patients with active CD, 16 had anxiety. Compared withhealthy individuals, patients with active CD demonstrated significantly lower radial kurtosis values in the rightcerebellar region 6, lower axial kurtosis (AK) values in the right insula, left superior temporal gyrus, and rightthalamus, and higher slow and fast apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCslow and ADCfast) in the bilateral frontal lobe,bilateral temporal lobe, and bilateral insular lobe (all P < 0.05). Compared with patients with CD without anxiety,patients with CD and anxiety exhibited significantly higher ADCslow values in the left insular lobe and lower AKvalues in the right insula and right anterior cuneus (all P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONThere are variations in brain microstructure and perfusion among CD patients with/without anxiety and healthyindividuals, suggesting potential use in assessing anxiety-related changes in active CD.展开更多
Randomized controlled trials(RCTs) are the gold standard in terms of study design, however, in the surgical setting conducting RCTs can often be unethical or logistically impossible. Case-control studies should become...Randomized controlled trials(RCTs) are the gold standard in terms of study design, however, in the surgical setting conducting RCTs can often be unethical or logistically impossible. Case-control studies should become the major study design used in surgical research when RCTs are unable to be conducted and definitely replacing case series which offer little insight into surgical outcomes and disease processes.展开更多
Background: Insomnia is a common complaint that is closely related to gastrointestinal symptoms, which is consistent with the traditional Chinese medicine classical theory of ‘‘stomach disharmony leading to restless...Background: Insomnia is a common complaint that is closely related to gastrointestinal symptoms, which is consistent with the traditional Chinese medicine classical theory of ‘‘stomach disharmony leading to restless sleep." Acupuncture is an effective complementary and alternative medicine therapy to improve gastrointestinal function and restore the normal sleep-wake cycle. However, studies on the effectiveness of acupuncture for insomnia due to spleen-stomach disharmony syndrome are limited to case reports and few randomized controlled trials; deeper research on its mechanism is still lacking. This randomized controlled trial aims to assess the treatment efficacy of ‘‘harmonizing stomach to tranquilize mind"acupuncture for insomnia and its influence on the intestinal microbiome.Methods/design: This is a randomized, single-blind, parallel-group study. Sixty eligible patients with insomnia due to spleen-stomach disharmony syndrome will be randomly divided into two groups(1:1 allocation ratio). The intervention group will use ‘‘harmonizing stomach to tranquilize mind"acupuncture, and the control group will receive sham acupuncture. Participants will receive 5 acupuncture treatment sessions per week for 4 consecutive weeks. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index will be used to evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment by making assessments at baseline, the end of treatment and the end of the follow-up. High-throughput 16 S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene sequencing will be performed to detect changes in the intestinal microbial composition before and after treatment.Discussion: The results of this trial are expected to confirm that ‘‘harmonizing stomach to tranquilize mind" acupuncture can effectively relieve insomnia and alter the intestinal microbiome.展开更多
Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) is a commonly diagnosed cancer in Southeast Asia. Many studies have examined the risk factors for NPC, yet the roles of some risk factors remain inconclusive. The purpose of t...Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) is a commonly diagnosed cancer in Southeast Asia. Many studies have examined the risk factors for NPC, yet the roles of some risk factors remain inconclusive. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between modifiable lifestyle factors and the risk of NPC in the Singaporean population.Methods: We conducted a case–control study in Singapore with 300 patients and 310 controls who were recruited between 2008 and 2012. Each control was selected and individually matched to each patient based on sex, ethnicity, and age(±5 years). A total of 290 pairs of cases and controls were matched successfully. We examined lifestyle factors such as tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, various salted and preserved food consumption, and weaning practices.Results: After adjusting for covariates, multivariate analysis showed that those participants who were current smokers and had ever smoked tobacco had a higher risk of NPC than participants who had never smoked, with odds ratios(ORs) of 4.50(95% confidence interval [CI] 2.58–7.86; P < 0.001) and 2.52(95% CI 1.54–4.12; P < 0.001), respectively. Those who consumed salted vegetables at least once a week also showed a significantly increased risk of NPC than those who never or rarely consumed salted vegetables, with an OR of 4.18(95% CI 1.69–10.38; P = 0.002).Conclusion: Smoking(currently and ever-smoked) and consuming salted vegetables once a week or more were lifestyle risk factors for NPC, and changes of these factors for the better may reduce the risk of NPC.展开更多
Background: Fire-needle acupuncture, an important kind of acupuncture therapy, has been clinically used to treat upper limb spastic paralysis(ULSP) after stroke. Clinical experience has indicated that fire-needle acup...Background: Fire-needle acupuncture, an important kind of acupuncture therapy, has been clinically used to treat upper limb spastic paralysis(ULSP) after stroke. Clinical experience has indicated that fire-needle acupuncture treatment takes less time, requires fewer visits, and has more rapid results and fewer side effects compared to chemical medicine alternatives. This study will evaluate the effects of fire-needle acupuncture for ULSP in the context of standardized clinical research and provide high-quality data to inform clinical procedures and future study design.Methods/Design: A randomized controlled trial will be carried out to evaluate the effects of fire-needle acupuncture therapy in patients with ULSP from stroke. ULSP patients(n = 120) will be recruited at Changhai Hospital in Shanghai, China. Patients will be randomly divided into three groups, including fire-needle acupuncture group(FAG), filiform-needle acupuncture group(FFAG) and rehabilitation treatment group(RTG). During the 3-week treatment, the FAG will be treated every two days, while FFAG and RTG will be treated 5 d in a row and then rest for 2 d. The Simplified Fugl-Meyer Motor Function Scale and Modified Ashworth Scale will be used as the primary outcome measures. Statistical analysis will be conducted by an independent statistician.Discussion: Through this study, the utility of fire-needle acupuncture in treating ULSP after stroke will be tested, and some specific claims of fire-needle acupuncture therapy will be evaluated, such as relieving spasm and muscular tension, improving activities of daily living, rapidity of response and less frequency of treatment compared with other treatments.展开更多
BACKGROUND： Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD） is a major public health problem worldwide. Pulmonary rehabilitation （PR） is an established intervention for the management of patients with COPD. Exercise...BACKGROUND： Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD） is a major public health problem worldwide. Pulmonary rehabilitation （PR） is an established intervention for the management of patients with COPD. Exercise training is an important part of PR, and its effectiveness in patients with COPD is well established. However, alternative methods of PR training such as Daoyin have not been appropriately studied. Hence, alternative forms of exercise training that require less exercise equipment and no specific training place should be evaluated. This paper describes the study protocol of a clinical trial that aims to determine if pulmonary Daoyin training will improve the exercise capacity and psychosocial function of patients with COPD in China. METHODS AND DESIGN： A multicenter, randomized, controlled trial will be conducted. A total of 464 patients meeting the inclusion criteria will be enrolled into this study with 232 patients in each of the trial group and the control group. Based on patient education, patients in the trial group will receive pulmonary Daoyin and continue with their usual therapy for three months. In the control group, patients will continue with their usual therapy. The primary outcome measures are exercise capacity assessed by the six-minute walking distance test and lung function. Secondary outcomes include dyspnea and quality of life. Measurements will be taken at baseline （month 0） and after the study period （month 3）. DISCUSSION： It is hypothesized that pulmonary Daoyin will have beneficial effects in improving exercise capacity and psychosocial function of patients with stable COPD, and will provide an alternative form of exercise training that is accessible for the large number of people with COPD. TRIAL REGISTRATION： This trial has been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov. The identifier is NCT01482000.展开更多
Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells(hUC-MSCs)support revascularization,inhibition of inflammation,regulation of apoptosis,and promotion of the release of beneficial factors.Thus,they are regarded as a promisin...Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells(hUC-MSCs)support revascularization,inhibition of inflammation,regulation of apoptosis,and promotion of the release of beneficial factors.Thus,they are regarded as a promising candidate for the treatment of intractable spinal cord injury(SCI).Clinical studies on patients with early chronic SCI(from 2 months to 1 year post-injury),which is clinically common,are rare;therefore,we will conduct a prospective,multicenter,randomized,placebo-controlled,single-blinded clinical trial at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University,West China Hospital of Sichuan University,and Shanghai East Hospital,Tongji University School of Medicine,China.The trial plans to recruit 66 early chronic SCI patients.Eligible patients will undergo randomization at a 2:1 ratio to two arms:the observation group and the control group.Subjects in the observation group will receive four intrathecal transplantations of stem cells,with a dosage of 1×106/kg,at one calendar month intervals.Subjects in the control group will receive intrathecal administrations of 10 mL sterile normal saline in place of the stem cell transplantations.Clinical safety will be assessed by the analysis of adverse events and laboratory tests.The American Spinal Injury Association(ASIA)total score will be the primary efficacy endpoint,and the secondary efficacy outcomes will be the following:ASIA impairment scale,International Association of Neural Restoration-Spinal Cord Injury Functional Rating Scale,muscle tension,electromyogram,cortical motor and cortical sensory evoked potentials,residual urine volume,magnetic resonance imaging–diffusion tensor imaging,T cell subtypes in serum,neurotrophic factors and inflammatory factors in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid.All evaluations will be performed at 1,3,6,and 12 months following the final intrathecal administration.During the entire study procedure,all adverse events will be reported as soon as they are noted.This trial is designed to evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of subarachnoid transplantation of hUC-MSCs to treat early chronic SCI.Moreover,it will establish whether cytotherapy can ameliorate local hostile microenvironments,promote tracking fiber regeneration,and strengthen spinal conduction ability,thus improving overall motor,sensory,and micturition/defecation function in patients with early chronic SCI.This study was approved by the Stem Cell Research Ethics Committee of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University,China(approval No.[2018]-02)on March 30,2018,and was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov(registration No.NCT03521323)on April 12,2018.The revised trial protocol(protocol version 4.0)was approved by the Stem Cell Research Ethics Committee of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University,China(approval No.[2019]-10)on February 25,2019,and released on ClinicalTrials.gov on April 29,2019.展开更多
The static and dynamic magnetic controlling characteristics of NiMnGa magnetically controlled shape memory alloy （MSMA） were experimentally studied. The results show that the characteristics of induced strain with r...The static and dynamic magnetic controlling characteristics of NiMnGa magnetically controlled shape memory alloy （MSMA） were experimentally studied. The results show that the characteristics of induced strain with respect to the magnetic field are nonlinear with saturation nature, and dependent on the temperature as well as the load applied to the MSMA. The magnetic shape memory effect can be observed only in complete martensite phase at room temperature. The magnetic permeability of MSMA is not constant and reduces with the increment of magnetic field. The relative saturation magnetic permeability of MSMA is about 1.5.展开更多
AIM:To evaluate the role of endoscopic stenting with or without concurrent 3-dimensional conformal chemoradiotherapy (3D-CRT) in patients with inoperable esophageal cancer.METHODS:Advanced esophageal cancer patients i...AIM:To evaluate the role of endoscopic stenting with or without concurrent 3-dimensional conformal chemoradiotherapy (3D-CRT) in patients with inoperable esophageal cancer.METHODS:Advanced esophageal cancer patients indicated for esophagectomy received esophageal stents.A part of patients completed 3D-CRT after stenting.Efficacy was assessed by endoscopy and computed tomographic scan before and 4 wk after completion of the treatment.The median survival,3D-CRT toxicity and complications were compared between 3D-CRT and control groups.RESULTS:From 1999 to 2008,99 consecutive patients with T3/T4 disease and unsuitable for esophagectomy were placed with esophageal stents.Sixty-seven patients received 3D-CRT,while 36 patients treated withendoscopic stents alone were recruited as controls.After 3D-CRT treatment,the median tumor volume of 3D-CRT patients were reduced significantly from 43.7 ± 10.2 cm 3 to 28.8 ± 8.5 cm 3 (P < 0.05).The complete and partial response rate was 85.1%,and no response was 14.9%.After 3D-CRT,the incidence rate of T2 and T3 disease evident on CT scan increased to 78.4% while T4 decreased from 66.7% to 21.6% (P < 0.05).3DCRT Karnofsky Performance Status improved in 3D-CRT patients compared with the control group (P=0.031).3D-CRT patients had a longer survival than the control group (251.7 d vs 91.1 d,P < 0.05).And the median half-year survival rate in 3D-CRT group (91%) was higher than in the control group (50%,P < 0.05).The most common toxicity was leukocytopenia in the 3D-CRT group (46.7% vs 18.8%,P=0.008).The control group had a higher rate of restenosis than the 3D-CRT group (81.3% vs 9.0%,P < 0.05).The rate of nephrotoxicity was increased in 3D-CRT as compared with the control group (31.3% vs 15.6%,P < 0.05).CONCLUSION:3D-CRT can improve dysphagia in patients with inoperable esophageal carcinoma.3D-CRT combined with stenting results in better survival as compared with endoscopic stents used alone.展开更多
Effective control of hypersonic transition is essential.In order to avoid affecting the structural proflle of the aircraft,as well as reducing power consumption and electromagnetic interference,a low-frequency surface...Effective control of hypersonic transition is essential.In order to avoid affecting the structural proflle of the aircraft,as well as reducing power consumption and electromagnetic interference,a low-frequency surface arc plasma disturbance experiment to promote hypersonic transition was carried out in theΦ0.25 m double-throat Ludwieg tube wind tunnel at Huazhong University of Science and Technology.Contacting printed circuit board sensors and non-contact focused laser differential interferometry testing technology were used in combination.Experimental results showed that the low-frequency surface arc plasma actuation had obvious stimulation effects on the second-mode unstable wave and could promote boundary layer transition by changing the spectral characteristics of the second-mode unstable wave.At the same time,the plasma actuation could promote energy exchange between the second-mode unstable wave and other unstable waves.Finally,the corresponding control mechanism is discussed.展开更多
基金sponsored by Shanghai Roche Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
文摘Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(DLBCL),the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma(NHL)worldwide,accounts for 39% and 44% of nodal and extranodal NHL cases in China,respectively1.Standard first-line treatment for DLBCL is chemo-immunotherapy with rituximab,cyclophos-phamide,doxorubicin,vincristine,and prednisone,which cures 50%-60% of patients2.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82170701).
文摘Objective This study aimed to analyze the clinical efficacy of the Jianpi Shengxue tablet for treating renal anemia.Methods A total of 200 patients with renal anemia from December 2020 to December 2022 were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups.Patients in the control group were treated with polysaccharide-iron complex,and those in the experimental group were administered Jianpi Shengxue tablet.After 8 weeks of continuous treatment,the therapeutic outcomes regarding anemia were compared between the two groups.Results After treatment,the red blood cell(RBC)count,hematocrit(HCT),reticulocyte percentage(RET),ferritin(SF),serum iron(SI),transferrin saturation(TSAT),and serum albumin(ALB)all increased(P<0.01),and the clinical symptom score and total iron binding capacity decreased(P<0.01)in the experimental group.Moreover,the improvements in RBC,HCT,RET,SF,SI,TAST,ALB,and clinical symptoms(fatigue,anorexia,dull skin complexion,numbness of hands and feet)in the experimental group were significantly greater than those in the control group(P<0.05).The total effective rate for treating renal anemia was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group(P<0.01).Conclusion The Jianpi Shengxue tablet demonstrates efficacy in treating renal anemia,leading to significant improvements in the laboratory examination results and clinical symptoms of patients with renal anemia.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.81973709)Chinese Medicine Development Fund (21B2/018A)State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine Special Fund (SZ2021ZZ05,SZ2021ZZ0502)。
文摘Background:Previously published meta-epidemiological studies focused on Western medicine have identified some trial characteristics that impact the treatment effect of randomized controlled trials(RCTs).Nevertheless,it remains unclear if similar associations exist in RCTs on Chinese herbal medicine(CHM).Further,Chinese medicine-related characteristics have not been explored yet.Objective:To investigate trial characteristics related to treatment effect estimates on CHM RCTs.Search strategy:This meta-epidemiological study searched 5 databases for systematic reviews on CHM treatment published between January 2011 and July 2021.Inclusion criteria:An eligible systematic review should only include RCTs of CHM and conduct at least one meta-analysis.Data extraction and analysis:Two reviewers independently conducted data extraction on general characteristics of systematic reviews,meta-analyses and included RCTs.They also assessed the risk of bias of RCTs using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.A two-step approach was used for data analyses.The ratio of odds ratios(ROR) and difference in standardized mean differences (dSMD) with 95%confidence interval (CI) were applied to present the difference in effect estimates for binary and continuous outcomes,respectively.Results:Ninety-one systematic reviews,comprising 1338 RCTs were identified.For binary outcomes,RCTs incorporated with syndrome differentiation (ROR:1.23;95%CI:[1.07,1.39]),adopting Chinese medicine formula (ROR:1.19;95%CI:[1.03,1.34]),with low risk of bias on incomplete outcome data (ROR:1.29;95%CI:[1.06,1.52]) and selective outcome reporting (ROR:1.12;95%CI:[1.01,1.24]),as well as a trial size≥100 (ROR:1.23;95%CI:[1.04,1.42]) preferred to show larger effect estimates.As for continuous outcomes,RCTs with Chinese medicine diagnostic criteria (dSMD:0.23;95%CI:[0.06,0.41]),judged as high/unclear risk of bias on allocation concealment (dSMD:-0.70;95%CI:[-0.99,-0.42]),with low risk of bias on incomplete outcome data (dSMD:0.30;95%CI:[0.18,0.43]),conducted at a single center (dSMD:-0.33;95%CI:[-0.61,-0.05]),not using intention-to-treat analysis (dSMD:-0.75;95%CI:[-1.43,-0.07]),and without funding support (dSMD:-0.22;95%CI:[-0.41,-0.02]) tended to show larger effect estimates.Conclusion:This study provides empirical evidence for the development of a specific critical appraisal tool for risk of bias assessments on CHM RCTs.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81671347(to KL)the Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou of China,No.202007030012(to KFS and KL)the Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou of China,No 202102020735(to RW).
文摘Strong evidence has accumulated to show a correlation between depression symptoms and inflammatory responses.Moreover,anti-inflammatory treatment has shown partial effectiveness in alleviating depression symptoms.Lycium barbarum polysaccharide(LBP),derived from Goji berries,exhibits notable antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.In our recent double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial,we found that LBP significantly reduced depressive symptoms in adolescents with subthreshold depression.It is presumed that the antidepressant effect of LBP may be associated with its influence on inflammatory cytokines.In the double-blinded randomized controlled trial,we enrolled 29 adolescents with subthreshold depression and randomly divided them into an LBP group and a placebo group.In the LBP group,adolescents were given 300 mg/d LBP.A 6-week follow up was completed by 24 adolescents,comprising 14 adolescents from the LBP group(15.36±2.06 years,3 men and 11 women)and 10 adolescents from the placebo group(14.9±1.6 years,2 men and 8 women).Our results showed that after 6 weeks of treatment,the interleukin-17A level in the LBP group was lower than that in the placebo group.Network analysis showed that LBP reduced the correlations and connectivity between inflammatory factors,which were associated with the improvement in depressive symptoms.These findings suggest that 6-week administration of LBP suppresses the immune response by reducing interleukin-17A level,thereby exerting an antidepressant effect.
基金Supported by All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhubaneswar Research Grant,No.AIIMS/BBSR/RS/2022/372.
文摘BACKGROUND Low back pain(LBP)is a prevalent issue that orthopedic surgeons frequently address in the outpatient setting.LBP can arise from various causes,with stiffness in the paraspinal muscles being a notable contributor.The administration of Botulinum toxin type A(BoNT-A)has been found to alleviate back pain by relaxing these stiff muscles.While BoNT-A is approved for use in numerous conditions,a limited number of randomized clinical trials(RCTs)validate its efficacy specifically for treating LBP.AIM To study the safety and the efficacy of BoNT-A in minimizing pain and improving functional outcomes in patients of chronic LBP(CLBP).METHODS In this RCT,adults aged 18-60 years with mechanical LBP persisting for at least six months were enrolled.Participants were allocated to either the Drug group,receiving 200 Ipsen Units(2 mL)of BoNT-A,or the Control group,which received a 2 mL placebo.Over a 2-month follow-up period,both groups were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale(VAS)for pain intensity and the Oswestry Disability Index(ODI)for disability at the start and conclusion of the study.A decrease in pain by 50%was deemed clinically significant.RESULTS The study followed 40 patients for two months,with 20 in each group.A clinically significant reduction in pain was observed in 36 participants.There was a statistically significant decrease in both VAS and ODI scores in the groups at the end of two months.Nonetheless,when comparing the mean score changes,only the reduction in ODI scores(15 in the placebo group vs 16.5 in the drug group,clinically insignificant)was statistically significant(P=0.012),whereas the change in mean VAS scores was not significant(P=0.45).CONCLUSION The study concludes that BoNT-A does not offer a short-term advantage over placebo in reducing pain or improving LBP scores in CLBP patients.
基金supported by the Shandong Natural Science Foundation Youth Project(No.ZR2023QE075)the Open Project Program of Shandong Marine Aerospace Equipment Technological Innovation Center(No.MAETIC202210)the Shandong Natural Science Foundation Project(No.ZR2022ME145)。
文摘The oscillating hydrofoil represents a promising technology for harvesting energy from tidal currents.While previous research has primarily focused on oscillating hydrofoils utilizing a fully activated control strategy,the industry predominantly employs a semi-activated control strategy in existing tidal current energy converters.It is essential to identify the differences in predicted energy-harvesting performance between these two controlling strategies through experimental modeling or numerical studies.Furthermore,the suitability of the fully activated control strategy in predicting the energy-harvesting capabilities of oscillating hydrofoils is evaluated.The 2D numerical models of hydrofoil based on fully activated and semi-activated control strategies have been developed and validated.The amplitudes of heaving and pitching movements for the fully activated hydrofoil are determined to match those of the semi-activated hydrofoil.The results show that the main difference between the two control strategies lies in the phase shift occurring between the pitching and heaving motions.This phase shift affects the lift force and its coordination with the heaving velocity,which in turn affects the power output.Notably,the maximum relative efficiency difference obtained between the fully activated and semi-activated control strategies can reach 191%.
基金the Program of Discipline Backbone of high-level Public Health Talents of Beijing Municipal Health Commission:Epidemiological Survey of Acute Myocardial Infarction Inpatients in Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Beijing Area(Discipline backbone-02-25)Beijing Municipal Hospital Administration Green Seedling Talent Project:Study on Characteristics of Clinical Syndromes,Status of Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment and Prognosis of Patients with Chronic Heart Failure in Traditional Chinese Medicine Regional Health Service Center(QML20231006)。
文摘OBJECTIVE:To investigate the efficacy and safety of Angong Jiangya pill(AGJY,安宫降压丸)in the treatment of grade 2 hypertension with liver-fire hyperactivity syndrome.METHODS:This multicenter,randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled trial was conducted in eight medical institutions.Eligible patients with grade 2 hypertension were randomly allocated to receive AGJY or a placebo for 12 weeks.The primary outcome was the change in blood pressure(BP).The secondary outcomes were BP compliance rate,Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)symptoms,and Duchenne Hypertension Quality of Life Scale score.RESULTS:Data were analyzed for 117 participants in the AGJY group and 118 participants in the placebo group.After 12 weeks of treatment,AGJY compared with placebo resulted in a higher and significant reduction in systolic/diastolic BP(-15.58±10.16/-9.72±7.41 vs-8.13±8.28/-4.86±5.68 mm Hg,P<0.0001,<0.0001,respectively).BP compliance rate(31.86%vs 19.13%,P=0.027)was significantly higher in the AGJY group than in the placebo group.The AGJY group showed a significant reduction in TCM symptom score compared with the placebo group(10.82±2.03 vs 7.83±1.24,P<0.0001).Single TCM syndrome clinical control rates of the primary symptoms(dizziness,headache,and irritability)were superior in the AGJY group(71.95%,94.62%,72.53%,respectively)compared with the placebo group(48.39%,68.00%,30.52%,respectively).Scores on the Duchenne Hypertension Quality of Life Scale showed a significant increase in the AGJY group compared with the placebo group(30.65±21.06 vs 9.96±10.72,P=0.000).No serious adverse events occurred.CONCLUSION:AGJY demonstrated efficacy in lowering BP,increasing the rate of BP compliance,and improving TCM symptoms and quality of life in patients with grade 2 hypertension liver-fire hyperactivity syndrome.However,further in-depth studies are required to determine the mechanism of TCM in treating hypertension.
文摘Objective:To evaluate the impact of subcutaneous tunneling on peripherally inserted central catheters(PICCs)dislodgement and malposition.Dislodged or malpositioned PICCs can lead to improper treatment.The subcutaneous tunneling strategy may be effective,but there is insufficient evidence,and proximal movement has not been explored.Methods:We randomized 630 patients who needed PICCs placement to either the tunneled PICCs(experimental group)or the non-tunneled PICCs(control group).Dislodgement and malposition of the catheter were the primary outcomes,and catheter-related infection(CRI)and catheter-related thrombosis(CRT)were the secondary outcomes.Results:Subcutaneous tunneling does not significantly reduce distal catheter movement,but it significantly reduces proximal catheter movement(4.3%vs.9.9%,P=0.007),which may explain the lower incidence of CRI(2.0%vs.5.3%,P=0.030)and CRT(3.6%vs.12.5%,P<0.001).Conclusions:Although subcutaneous tunneling does not significantly improve catheter prolapse,it should still be used clinically because proximal catheter movement can be a more serious problem associated with CRI and CRT.
基金financially supported by the Major Science and Technology-Special Plan“Unveiling and Leading”Project of Shanxi Province(No.202201050201011)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52274316)+4 种基金China Baowu Low-Carbon Metallurgy Innovation Foundation(No.BWLCF202116)National Key R&D Program of China(No.2022YFE0208100)Major Science and Technology Project of Xinjiang(No.2022A01003)Major Science and Technology Projects of Anhui Province(No.202210700037)Special Funding for Science and Technology of China Minmetals Corporation(No.2021ZXD01).
文摘Under the background of the strategic goal of"double carbon,"the carbon reduction and consumption reduction of the iron and steel industry,especially in the ironmaking process,need to be further improved.The raceway of tuyere provides the chemical environment,fuel and power source for blast furnace smelting.The research on the characteristics of its action mode and mechanism is of great significance to clarify the way of reducing carbon and consumption of blast furnace.In general,the formation mechanism,energy distribution,research progress,extended resource injection and directional regulation are studied and expounded.The research results of various scholars on the characteristics of the raceway show that the raceway is a complex process including multiphase turbulent flow,heat,momentum,mass and homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reactions.With the development of multi-source fuel injection technology,the complexity of problem research is more obvious.Therefore,the collection of multi-factor,multi-directional and multi-process characteristic information in the raceway can provide guarantee for the stability,smooth operation,high yield,carbon reduction and consumption reduction of blast furnace and provide new ideas for the green and low-carbon development of iron and steel industry.
基金supported in part by the European Regional Development Fund under Grant KK.01.1.1.01.0009(DATACROSS).
文摘This paper deals with reduction of losses in electric power distribution system through a dynamic reconfiguration case study of a grid in the city of Mostar,Bosnia and Herzegovina.The proposed solution is based on a nonlinear model predictive control algorithm which determines the optimal switching operations of the distribution system.The goal of the control algorithm is to find the optimal radial network topology which minimizes cumulative active power losses and maximizes voltages across the network while simultaneously satisfying all system constraints.The optimization results are validated through multiple simulations(using real power demand data collected for a few characteristic days during winter and summer)which demonstrate the efficiency and usefulness of the developed control algorithm in reducing the grid losses by up to 14%.
基金Ethics Committee of Affiliated Changzhou Second People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University(approval number KY039-01).
文摘BACKGROUND Anxiety is a common comorbidity in patients with Crohn’s disease(CD).Data on the imaging characteristics of brain microstructure and cerebral perfusion in CD with anxiety are limited.AIM To compare the imaging characteristics of brain microstructure and cerebral perfusion among CD patients with or without anxiety and healthy individuals.METHODS This prospective comparative study enrolled consecutive patients with active CD and healthy individuals who visited the study hospital between January 2022 and January 2023.Anxiety was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety.The imaging characteristics of brain microstructure and cerebral perfusion were measured by diffusion kurtosis imaging and intravoxel incoherent motion.RESULTSA total of 57 participants were enrolled. Among the patients with active CD, 16 had anxiety. Compared withhealthy individuals, patients with active CD demonstrated significantly lower radial kurtosis values in the rightcerebellar region 6, lower axial kurtosis (AK) values in the right insula, left superior temporal gyrus, and rightthalamus, and higher slow and fast apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCslow and ADCfast) in the bilateral frontal lobe,bilateral temporal lobe, and bilateral insular lobe (all P < 0.05). Compared with patients with CD without anxiety,patients with CD and anxiety exhibited significantly higher ADCslow values in the left insular lobe and lower AKvalues in the right insula and right anterior cuneus (all P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONThere are variations in brain microstructure and perfusion among CD patients with/without anxiety and healthyindividuals, suggesting potential use in assessing anxiety-related changes in active CD.
文摘Randomized controlled trials(RCTs) are the gold standard in terms of study design, however, in the surgical setting conducting RCTs can often be unethical or logistically impossible. Case-control studies should become the major study design used in surgical research when RCTs are unable to be conducted and definitely replacing case series which offer little insight into surgical outcomes and disease processes.
基金supported by a grant from the Science and Technology Planned Project of Sichuan Province,China (No.18YYJC0949)
文摘Background: Insomnia is a common complaint that is closely related to gastrointestinal symptoms, which is consistent with the traditional Chinese medicine classical theory of ‘‘stomach disharmony leading to restless sleep." Acupuncture is an effective complementary and alternative medicine therapy to improve gastrointestinal function and restore the normal sleep-wake cycle. However, studies on the effectiveness of acupuncture for insomnia due to spleen-stomach disharmony syndrome are limited to case reports and few randomized controlled trials; deeper research on its mechanism is still lacking. This randomized controlled trial aims to assess the treatment efficacy of ‘‘harmonizing stomach to tranquilize mind"acupuncture for insomnia and its influence on the intestinal microbiome.Methods/design: This is a randomized, single-blind, parallel-group study. Sixty eligible patients with insomnia due to spleen-stomach disharmony syndrome will be randomly divided into two groups(1:1 allocation ratio). The intervention group will use ‘‘harmonizing stomach to tranquilize mind"acupuncture, and the control group will receive sham acupuncture. Participants will receive 5 acupuncture treatment sessions per week for 4 consecutive weeks. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index will be used to evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment by making assessments at baseline, the end of treatment and the end of the follow-up. High-throughput 16 S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene sequencing will be performed to detect changes in the intestinal microbial composition before and after treatment.Discussion: The results of this trial are expected to confirm that ‘‘harmonizing stomach to tranquilize mind" acupuncture can effectively relieve insomnia and alter the intestinal microbiome.
基金This study was funded by a grant from the National Cancer Centre Singapore Research Fund(CEFIA 08113-25260790-CREF-IARC)(Grant No.CEFIA08136).
文摘Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) is a commonly diagnosed cancer in Southeast Asia. Many studies have examined the risk factors for NPC, yet the roles of some risk factors remain inconclusive. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between modifiable lifestyle factors and the risk of NPC in the Singaporean population.Methods: We conducted a case–control study in Singapore with 300 patients and 310 controls who were recruited between 2008 and 2012. Each control was selected and individually matched to each patient based on sex, ethnicity, and age(±5 years). A total of 290 pairs of cases and controls were matched successfully. We examined lifestyle factors such as tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, various salted and preserved food consumption, and weaning practices.Results: After adjusting for covariates, multivariate analysis showed that those participants who were current smokers and had ever smoked tobacco had a higher risk of NPC than participants who had never smoked, with odds ratios(ORs) of 4.50(95% confidence interval [CI] 2.58–7.86; P < 0.001) and 2.52(95% CI 1.54–4.12; P < 0.001), respectively. Those who consumed salted vegetables at least once a week also showed a significantly increased risk of NPC than those who never or rarely consumed salted vegetables, with an OR of 4.18(95% CI 1.69–10.38; P = 0.002).Conclusion: Smoking(currently and ever-smoked) and consuming salted vegetables once a week or more were lifestyle risk factors for NPC, and changes of these factors for the better may reduce the risk of NPC.
基金funded by Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality(No.17401933900)
文摘Background: Fire-needle acupuncture, an important kind of acupuncture therapy, has been clinically used to treat upper limb spastic paralysis(ULSP) after stroke. Clinical experience has indicated that fire-needle acupuncture treatment takes less time, requires fewer visits, and has more rapid results and fewer side effects compared to chemical medicine alternatives. This study will evaluate the effects of fire-needle acupuncture for ULSP in the context of standardized clinical research and provide high-quality data to inform clinical procedures and future study design.Methods/Design: A randomized controlled trial will be carried out to evaluate the effects of fire-needle acupuncture therapy in patients with ULSP from stroke. ULSP patients(n = 120) will be recruited at Changhai Hospital in Shanghai, China. Patients will be randomly divided into three groups, including fire-needle acupuncture group(FAG), filiform-needle acupuncture group(FFAG) and rehabilitation treatment group(RTG). During the 3-week treatment, the FAG will be treated every two days, while FFAG and RTG will be treated 5 d in a row and then rest for 2 d. The Simplified Fugl-Meyer Motor Function Scale and Modified Ashworth Scale will be used as the primary outcome measures. Statistical analysis will be conducted by an independent statistician.Discussion: Through this study, the utility of fire-needle acupuncture in treating ULSP after stroke will be tested, and some specific claims of fire-needle acupuncture therapy will be evaluated, such as relieving spasm and muscular tension, improving activities of daily living, rapidity of response and less frequency of treatment compared with other treatments.
基金supported by 2011 Special Fund for TCM-scientific Research in the Public Interest of Ministry of Finance, People’s Republic of ChinaState Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (No. 201107002)
文摘BACKGROUND： Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD） is a major public health problem worldwide. Pulmonary rehabilitation （PR） is an established intervention for the management of patients with COPD. Exercise training is an important part of PR, and its effectiveness in patients with COPD is well established. However, alternative methods of PR training such as Daoyin have not been appropriately studied. Hence, alternative forms of exercise training that require less exercise equipment and no specific training place should be evaluated. This paper describes the study protocol of a clinical trial that aims to determine if pulmonary Daoyin training will improve the exercise capacity and psychosocial function of patients with COPD in China. METHODS AND DESIGN： A multicenter, randomized, controlled trial will be conducted. A total of 464 patients meeting the inclusion criteria will be enrolled into this study with 232 patients in each of the trial group and the control group. Based on patient education, patients in the trial group will receive pulmonary Daoyin and continue with their usual therapy for three months. In the control group, patients will continue with their usual therapy. The primary outcome measures are exercise capacity assessed by the six-minute walking distance test and lung function. Secondary outcomes include dyspnea and quality of life. Measurements will be taken at baseline （month 0） and after the study period （month 3）. DISCUSSION： It is hypothesized that pulmonary Daoyin will have beneficial effects in improving exercise capacity and psychosocial function of patients with stable COPD, and will provide an alternative form of exercise training that is accessible for the large number of people with COPD. TRIAL REGISTRATION： This trial has been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov. The identifier is NCT01482000.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China,No.2017YFA0105403(to LMR)the Key Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province of China,No.2019B020236002(to LMR)+4 种基金The Clinical Innovation Research Program of Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory of China,No.2018GZR0201006(to LMR)the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.81772349(to BL),31470949(to BL)the Guangzhou Science and Technology Project of China,Nos.201704020221(to LMR),201707010115(to BL)the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province of China,No.2017A030313594(to BL)the Medical Scientific Research Foundation of Guangdong Province of China,No.A2018547(to MP)
文摘Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells(hUC-MSCs)support revascularization,inhibition of inflammation,regulation of apoptosis,and promotion of the release of beneficial factors.Thus,they are regarded as a promising candidate for the treatment of intractable spinal cord injury(SCI).Clinical studies on patients with early chronic SCI(from 2 months to 1 year post-injury),which is clinically common,are rare;therefore,we will conduct a prospective,multicenter,randomized,placebo-controlled,single-blinded clinical trial at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University,West China Hospital of Sichuan University,and Shanghai East Hospital,Tongji University School of Medicine,China.The trial plans to recruit 66 early chronic SCI patients.Eligible patients will undergo randomization at a 2:1 ratio to two arms:the observation group and the control group.Subjects in the observation group will receive four intrathecal transplantations of stem cells,with a dosage of 1×106/kg,at one calendar month intervals.Subjects in the control group will receive intrathecal administrations of 10 mL sterile normal saline in place of the stem cell transplantations.Clinical safety will be assessed by the analysis of adverse events and laboratory tests.The American Spinal Injury Association(ASIA)total score will be the primary efficacy endpoint,and the secondary efficacy outcomes will be the following:ASIA impairment scale,International Association of Neural Restoration-Spinal Cord Injury Functional Rating Scale,muscle tension,electromyogram,cortical motor and cortical sensory evoked potentials,residual urine volume,magnetic resonance imaging–diffusion tensor imaging,T cell subtypes in serum,neurotrophic factors and inflammatory factors in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid.All evaluations will be performed at 1,3,6,and 12 months following the final intrathecal administration.During the entire study procedure,all adverse events will be reported as soon as they are noted.This trial is designed to evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of subarachnoid transplantation of hUC-MSCs to treat early chronic SCI.Moreover,it will establish whether cytotherapy can ameliorate local hostile microenvironments,promote tracking fiber regeneration,and strengthen spinal conduction ability,thus improving overall motor,sensory,and micturition/defecation function in patients with early chronic SCI.This study was approved by the Stem Cell Research Ethics Committee of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University,China(approval No.[2018]-02)on March 30,2018,and was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov(registration No.NCT03521323)on April 12,2018.The revised trial protocol(protocol version 4.0)was approved by the Stem Cell Research Ethics Committee of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University,China(approval No.[2019]-10)on February 25,2019,and released on ClinicalTrials.gov on April 29,2019.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under grant No.50177019by the Education Department of China under grant No.20040142004.
文摘The static and dynamic magnetic controlling characteristics of NiMnGa magnetically controlled shape memory alloy （MSMA） were experimentally studied. The results show that the characteristics of induced strain with respect to the magnetic field are nonlinear with saturation nature, and dependent on the temperature as well as the load applied to the MSMA. The magnetic shape memory effect can be observed only in complete martensite phase at room temperature. The magnetic permeability of MSMA is not constant and reduces with the increment of magnetic field. The relative saturation magnetic permeability of MSMA is about 1.5.
文摘AIM:To evaluate the role of endoscopic stenting with or without concurrent 3-dimensional conformal chemoradiotherapy (3D-CRT) in patients with inoperable esophageal cancer.METHODS:Advanced esophageal cancer patients indicated for esophagectomy received esophageal stents.A part of patients completed 3D-CRT after stenting.Efficacy was assessed by endoscopy and computed tomographic scan before and 4 wk after completion of the treatment.The median survival,3D-CRT toxicity and complications were compared between 3D-CRT and control groups.RESULTS:From 1999 to 2008,99 consecutive patients with T3/T4 disease and unsuitable for esophagectomy were placed with esophageal stents.Sixty-seven patients received 3D-CRT,while 36 patients treated withendoscopic stents alone were recruited as controls.After 3D-CRT treatment,the median tumor volume of 3D-CRT patients were reduced significantly from 43.7 ± 10.2 cm 3 to 28.8 ± 8.5 cm 3 (P < 0.05).The complete and partial response rate was 85.1%,and no response was 14.9%.After 3D-CRT,the incidence rate of T2 and T3 disease evident on CT scan increased to 78.4% while T4 decreased from 66.7% to 21.6% (P < 0.05).3DCRT Karnofsky Performance Status improved in 3D-CRT patients compared with the control group (P=0.031).3D-CRT patients had a longer survival than the control group (251.7 d vs 91.1 d,P < 0.05).And the median half-year survival rate in 3D-CRT group (91%) was higher than in the control group (50%,P < 0.05).The most common toxicity was leukocytopenia in the 3D-CRT group (46.7% vs 18.8%,P=0.008).The control group had a higher rate of restenosis than the 3D-CRT group (81.3% vs 9.0%,P < 0.05).The rate of nephrotoxicity was increased in 3D-CRT as compared with the control group (31.3% vs 15.6%,P < 0.05).CONCLUSION:3D-CRT can improve dysphagia in patients with inoperable esophageal carcinoma.3D-CRT combined with stenting results in better survival as compared with endoscopic stents used alone.
基金supported by National Science and Technology Major Project(No.J2019-II-0014-0035)。
文摘Effective control of hypersonic transition is essential.In order to avoid affecting the structural proflle of the aircraft,as well as reducing power consumption and electromagnetic interference,a low-frequency surface arc plasma disturbance experiment to promote hypersonic transition was carried out in theΦ0.25 m double-throat Ludwieg tube wind tunnel at Huazhong University of Science and Technology.Contacting printed circuit board sensors and non-contact focused laser differential interferometry testing technology were used in combination.Experimental results showed that the low-frequency surface arc plasma actuation had obvious stimulation effects on the second-mode unstable wave and could promote boundary layer transition by changing the spectral characteristics of the second-mode unstable wave.At the same time,the plasma actuation could promote energy exchange between the second-mode unstable wave and other unstable waves.Finally,the corresponding control mechanism is discussed.
