Clinical Observation of the Hot and Humid Compress Therapy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis Type of Lumbar Disc Herniation

Background: Although a number of studies have reported that the hot and humid compress from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is effective in treating lumbar disc herniation (LDH) with qi stagnation and blood stasis, clinical evidence is limited. Objective: The purpose of this study is to provide high-quality evidence to support the effectiveness of the traditional Chinese hot and humid compress in the treatment of LDH with qi stagnation and blood stasis. Methods: From October 2021 to November 2023, 86 patients with LDH of qi stagnation and blood stasis type were recruited in our hospital and divided into a control (n = 43) and an observation group (n = 43) according to the random number table method. The control group was given routine clinical treatment, and the observation group was treated with the hot and humid compress therapy for two weeks. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, TCM syndrome score, serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), serum interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were observed and compared between the two groups before and after treatment, and the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated. Results: After treatment, the VAS score, TCM symptom score, and serum IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α levels decreased in both groups (P P P P P Conclusions: The hot and humid compress of traditional Chinese medicine can effectively relieve pain, restore lumbar function, improve TCM syndromes, reduce the level of inflammatory factors, and have a curative effect in treating LDH.

Evaluation of the Therapeutic Effect of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound on Different Types of Knee Osteoarthritis in the Elderly

Objective: To evaluate the curative effect of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) external therapy on knee osteoarthritis patients with different TCM constitutions using musculoskeletal ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, and to explore the application value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in knee joint diseases. Methods: A total of 57 patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis in Shaanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from December 2019 to May 2021 were collected, and they were divided into qi stagnation and blood stasis type group (23 cases) and cold-dampness obstruction type group (34 cases) according to the traditional Chinese medicine method. All patients were given acupuncture combined with TCM fumigation and washing. All patients underwent musculoskeletal ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography before and after treatment, observed and recorded relevant data, and compared the treatment effects between the two groups. Results: 85.96% (49/57) of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients had suprapatellar bursa effusion, 42.1% (24/57) had iliotibial band bursae effusion, some of which had poor sound transmission, and thickened synovium was seen in most effusions, 33.33% (19/57) had osteophyte formation. Compared with before treatment, the depth of suprapatellar sac effusion in the Qi stagnation and blood stasis type group decreased after treatment (P Conclusion: Musculoskeletal contrast-enhanced ultrasonography was used to quantitatively evaluate the efficacy of TCM external therapy on KOA for different TCM constitutions. Dynamic observation of synovial lesions of knee osteoarthritis provides a valuable imaging method for evaluating the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine.

Importance and Risk Prediction of ABO Blood Group and Rh Factor in Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Objective:There are limited data in the literature regarding the potential relationship between thyroid cancer and ABO blood types and Rh factor.The aim of our study was to investigate whether papillary thyroid cancer(PTC)is associated with blood type.Materials and Methods:The present study included patients who pre­sented to Dicle University Faculty of Medicine between June 2009 and December 2020 and were diagnosed with PTC as a result of postoperative(thyroidectomy)histopathological analysis.The control group consisted of individuals whose blood type was analyzed at a random blood center.Results:Of the 223 patients diagnosed with PTC,163(73.1%)were fe­males and 60(26.9%)were males.In the comparison of patients based on ABO blood types and Rh factor,A Rh positive blood type was found 31%less frequently in the PTC group compared with the control group,and thus it was associated with a lower risk of PTC(OR:0.69;95%Confidence In­terval:0.50-0.96,p=0.029).Conclusions:In our study,we found A Rh positive blood type to be signifi­cantly less frequent among patients with PTC.A Rh positive blood type can be considered as a protective factor indicating a reduced risk of PTC.

ABO blood type,diabetes and risk of gastrointestinal cancer in northern China

AIM:To explore the potential risk factors related to gastrointestinal cancer in northern China.METHODS:A total of 3314 cases of gastrointestinal cancer(esophageal,gastric,pancreatic and biliary) and 2223 controls(including healthy individuals,glioma and thyroid cancer) were analyzed by case-control study.Multivariable logistic regression analysis was applied to evaluate the association between different cancers and hepatitis B surface antigen,sex,age,blood type,diabetes,or family history of cancer.RESULTS:Type 2 diabetes was significantly associated with gastric,biliary and pancreatic cancer with an OR of 2.0-3.0.Blood type B was significantly associated with esophageal cancer [odd ratio(OR) = 1.53,95% confidence interval(CI) = 1.10-2.14] and biliary cancer(OR = 1.49,95% CI = 1.09-2.05).The prevalence of type 2 diabetes was significantly higher in gastric,biliary and pancreatic cancers compared with other groups,with ORs ranging between 2.0 and 3.0.Family history of cancer was strongly associated with gastrointestinal compared with other cancers.CONCLUSION:Blood type B individuals are susceptible to esophageal and biliary cancer.Type 2 diabetes is significantly associated with gastric,biliary and especially pancreatic cancer.

Challenge to ABO blood type barrier in living donor liver transplantation

ABO incompatible living donor liver transplantation has the potential to expand the donor pool for patients with end stage liver diseases on the expense of challenges to overcome immunological barriers across blood type.There is a profound impact of age on incidence and severity of antibody mediated rejection(AMR).Even children older than 1 year have chances of AMR;children aged 8 years or older have risks of hepatic necrosis similar to adult liver recipients.The mechanism of AMR is based on circulatory disturbances secondary to inflammation and injury of the vascular endothelium caused by an antibody-antigen-complement reaction.The strategy to overcome ABO blood type barrier is based on both pre-transplant desensitization and adequate treatment of this phenomenon.Nowadays,rituximab is the standard means of desensitization but unfortunately an insufficient aid to treat AMR.Because of low incidence(less than 5%in the rituximab era),in practice of AMR only some case reports about the treatment of clinical AMR are available in the literature.Initial experiences revealed that the proteasome inhibitor,bortezomib might be a promising treatment based on its capacity to deplete plasma cell agents.Although ABO blood type barrier has been counteracted in 95%of patients by applying“rituximab-desensitization”,many issues,such as prediction of high-risk patients of infection and AMR and secure treatment strategies for evoked AMR,remain to be resolved.

Blood group type antigens in pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms

BACKGROUND: There are few data on blood group(BG) types and types of pancreatic cancers. The aims of this study were to study BG types and BG-antigens in pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms(IPMNs). METHODS: BG type and tumor BG-antigen(glycoprotein) expression(studied by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays) were analyzed with regard to characteristics of 101 surgically resected pancreatic IPMNs. RESULTS: Non-O BG type predicted invasive carcinoma independently from high serum CA19-9 and male gender. BG type A was observed more frequently in women than in men. Chronic pancreatitis was more frequently seen in patients with BG type B or AB. Aberrant tumor expression(with regard to BG type) of loss of A antigen expression type occurred in 15.0% of IPMNs and of loss of B antigen expression type in 62.5% of IPMNs. Intraneoplasm BG-antigen expression was not related to dysplasia grade or invasion. CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest that in pancreatic IPMN, non-O BG type predicted invasive carcinoma, whereas for intratumor BG-antigen expression no specific patterns were detected with regard to the progression of glandular epithelial dysplasia or invasion.

Parsimonious Model for Blood Glucose Level Monitoring in Type 2 Diabetes patients

To establish the parsimonious model for blood glucose monitoring in patients with type 2 diabetes receiving oral hypoglycemic agent treatment. One hundred and fifty-nine adult Chinese type 2 diabetes patients were randomized to receive rapid-acting or sustained-release gliclazide therapy for 12 weeks.

The correlation between different ABO blood group gene loci and the pathogenesis and prognosis of acute myocardial infarction

Objective: To assess the effect of different ABO blood group gene locus on severity and prognosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: 100 patients with AMI diagnosed in our hospital from June 2018 to June 2019 were selected as the myocardial infarction group. At the same time, 100 healthy patients with physical examination results in our hospital were selected as the control group. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms of peripheral blood ABO gene loci rs505922, rs579459, rs643434, rs651007, and rs8176743 were detected. The differences of ABO blood group gene loci in different groups were compared. The correlation between the distribution of ABO blood group gene loci and the incidence and prognosis of patients with AMI was analyzed. Results: 98 cases were included in the myocardial infarction group and 99 cases were included in the control group. Compared with the control group, the genotypes of rs643434 and rs651007 locus in the myocardial infarction group were statistically significant (P<0.05). Analysis under different genetic models , compared with the control group, the myocardial infarction group had a significant difference in the rs643434 gene dominant mode, rs651007 dominant mode and recessive mode (P<0.05). The dominant mode of rs643434 was correlated with Gensini score and TIMI grade. The dominant mode of rs651007 was correlated with Gensini score, TIMI grade and troponin.The recessive mode of rs651007 was correlated with Gensini score, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The dominant mode of rs643434 was related to the occurrence of MACE, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).Conclusion: Different genetic models of ABO blood group genes rs643434 and rs651007 may be related to the condition and prognosis of AMI.

Abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity associated with illness course, symptoms and fasting blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND: It has shown that abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity during onset of diabetes mellitus is not related to age and sex, but to symptoms, illness course and level of fasting blood glucose. OBJECTIVE: To measure correlation of abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity with various illness courses, symptoms and levels of fasting blood glucose of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. DESIGN: Case analysis. SETTING: Department of Neurology, Central People's Hospital of Huizhou. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 128 patients who were diagnosed as type 2 diabetes mellitus were selected from Central People's Hospital of Huizhou from September 2001 to October 2005. There were 75 males and 53 females aged 32-83 years and the illness course ranged from 1 month to 20 years. METHODS: All 128 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus received neuro-electrophysiological study and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed to measure peripheral nerve conduction velocity and fasting blood glucose so as to investigate the correlation of peripheral nerve conduction velocity with clinical symptoms, illness course and levels of fasting blood glucose. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Correlation of peripheral nerve conduction velocity with clinical symptoms, illness course and levels of fasting blood glucose. RESULTS: All 128 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were involved in the final analysis. ① Among 128 patients, 114 patients had abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity; 110 patients had clinical symptoms, including 102 patients having abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity; 18 patients did not have clinical symptoms, including 12 patients having abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity. There were significant differences between them (χ 2=8.275, P =0.04). ② Among 128 patients, illness course of 75 patients was equal to or less than 5 years, including 27 patients having abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity; illness course of 53 patients was more than 5 years, including 35 patients having abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity. There were significant differences between them (χ 2=11.469, P =0.003). ③ Among 128 patients, levels of fasting blood glucose of 75 patients was equal to or lower than 11 mmol/L, including 41 patients having abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity; levels of fasting blood glucose of 53 patients was higher than 11 mmol/L, including 38 patients having abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity. There were significant differences between them (χ 2=4.023, P =0.134). CONCLUSION: ① Abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus is related to illness courses and clinical symptoms. The longer the illness course is, the severer the abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity is. Abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity always occurs on patients who have clinical symptoms. ② Abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity is not related to levels of fasting blood glucose.

EFFECTS OF ACUPUNCTURE ON THE HIGH HEMAGGLUTINATION STATE, BLOOD-SUGAR-RAISING HORMONE AND IMMUNOCYTE FACTOR LEVELS IN TYPE-II DIABETES PATIENTS

Objective: To investigate the effect of acupuncture on high hemagglutination state, blood sugar raising hormone and immunocyte factor levels in type II diabetes patients. Methods: A total of 120 inpatients and outpatients were randomly divided into acupuncture plus medication group (n=52) and medication group (n=50). In addition, 18 type II diabetes patients formed acupuncture group for comparing their therapeutic effects. Main acupoints used were Pishu (BL 20), Geshu (BL 17), Yishu, Shenshu (BL 23), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), etc.. combined with other acupoints according to different sydroms. These acupoints were stimulated by manipulaing the filiform needles with uniform reinforcing and reducing method for 15 min and then stimulated electrically for 15 min with an electroacupuncture therapeutic apparatus. Western medicines used were Glipizide, Dimethyldiguanide Hydrochloride, etc.. The treatment was given once daily, with 10 sessions being a therapeutic course, 2～3 courses altogether. Indexes of external thrombosis length (ETL), platelet agglutination rate (PAgR), fibrinogen (FG), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fasting blood glucose (FBG), prothrombin time(PT), adrenocoticortropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol (CS), growth hormone (GH), glucagon (GL), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF α), interleukin 6 (IL 6), insulin (INS) and C peptide (C P) were determined using radioimmunoassay. Results: After 2～3 courses of treatment, both acupuncture group and medication plus acupuncture group could significantly improve high hemagglutination state, lower blood sugar raising hormone level, regulate immunocyte factor level and raise the sensitivity of insulin, which were apparently superior to those of medication group (P<0.05～0.01). Conclusion: Acupuncture therapy can effectively regulate plasma blood sugar raising hormone, immunocyte factor levels, increase the sensitivity of insulin to target cells, resist blood coagulation and improve microcirculation.

Collection of Professor Lihong Zhu's Experience in Treating Postpartum Hypogalactia of Blood Deficiency and Liver Depression Type

Professor Lihong Zhu proposed the syndrome type of"blood deficiency and liver depression"in the clinical treatment of postpartum hypogalactia,and discussed its main etiology and pathogenesis as Yin blood deficiency and liver Qi stagnation,with blood deficiency as the basis and liver depression as the standard.She self-made"Shugan Shengru prescription/5*which was added and subtracted with symptoms,with remarkable clinical effect,and widened the thinking of diagnosis and treatment of postpartum hypogalactia.

Characteristic of Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Normotensive Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Objectives To observe the characteristic of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in normotensive diabetic subjects with normoalbuminuria or microalbuminuria. Methods Fifty-two normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes received ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were divided into normoalbuminuric and microalbuminuric groups according to their albumin excretion rate, the other 28 normotensive subjects without diabetes were contributed as control group. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed on a working day and measurement of blood pressure circadian rhythm was analyzed. Results Normotensive microalbuminuric diabetic patients had higher night-time systolic blood pressure and more blood pressure burden than normotensive normoalbuminuric diabetic patients. Additionally, the microalbuminuric patients had a higher frequency of non-dippers than normoalbuminuric ones, although they were all normotensive. Compared to the normotensive non-diabetic control subjects, the night- time systolic blood pressure and frequency of non- dippers of the normoalbuminuric diabetic patients were significantly higher. Conclusions Intensive attention should be paid in control of blood pressure in diabetic patients to prevent and limit damage of target organ including kidney, even in those normotensive subjects.

Interventional treatments for hepatic hemangioma:A state-of-the-art review

Hepatic hemangiomas(HHs)are the most common benign tumors of the liver.These tumors are mainly asymptomatic and do not require treatment.Nevertheless,there are some special cases that require therapeutic intervention,and surgery and intervention are currently the primary treatment modalities.Despite significant advances in the development of minimally invasive techniques and their popularization,interventional treatment of HH is still the preferred choice.In the present review,we discuss the pathological properties,type of blood supply,and treatment indications for HH and assess the status and progress of the existing interventional treatments.

The Clinical Experience of Prof. Zhang Xiaofeng in the Treatment of Small Follicular, Ovulatory Infertility with Traditional Chinese Medicine

With the popularization of clinical ultrasound technology,small follicular ovulation infertility is gradually being recognized in clinical practice.Low follicle ovulation refers to the phenomenon that the average value of the three diameter lines of the dominant follicle is less than 14mm-18mm under continuous ultrasound monitoring.The dominant follicle ovulates before it develops to maturity,which is a kind of ovulation disorder and one of the leading causes of unexplained infertility[1],accounting for 25%-30%of the total number of patients with infertility[2].At present,Western medicine mostly uses ovulation,stimulating drugs to treat this disease.Still,due to the clinical result of“high ovulation but low pregnancy”,there are certain obstacles in treatment.The purpose of this article is to discuss Zhang Xiaofeng’s understanding of TCM of this disease.The tutor believes that the location of the disease is in the kidney,and the mechanism of the disease is kidney yin deficiency and blood heat.The treatment principle is sequential therapy,nourishing yin and clearing heat,taking into account the protection of the spleen and stomach,and the therapeutic effect is perfect.

OBSERVATION ON THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF ACPUNCTURE COMBINED WITH MASSAGE FOR CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS OF VERTEBRAL ARTERIAL TYPE BY USING TRANCRANIAL DOPPLYER ULTRASONOGRAPHY

To observe the effect of acupuncture combined with massage on blood flow velocity of the vertebro-basilar artery in cervical spondylosis of vertebral arterial type （CSVAT） patients. Methods： In the present study, methods of evidence-based medicine, triple-centers, single-blindness, randomization and control were used. A total of 100 cases of CSVAT patients were randomized into acupuncture plus massage （acu-massage） group （n = 38）, acupuncture group （n = 32） and massage group （n = 30）. Acupoints used were Fengchi （风池, GB 20）, cervical Jiaji （颈夹脊 EX-B 2）, Baihui （百会 GV 20）, and the methods of massage used were kneading-rolling, adhesion-separating and acupoint-digital pressing, topical digital pressing and rubbing, traction-extending and mild palm-rubbing. The treatment was conducted once daily, with 7 sessions being a therapeutic course and continuously for 2 courses. Changes of peak velocity （Vp）, end-diastolic velocity （Vd）, mean velocity （Vm） of blood flow of the vertebral artery （VA） and basilar artery （BA）, etc were detected before and after the treatment by using transcranial Doppler （TCD） ultrasonography. Resuits： After the treatment, the abnormally low Vp of both VA and BA in acu-massage, acupuncture and massage groups, Vm of VA in acu-massage and acupuncture groups, Vm of BA in acu-massage and massage groups, and Vd of VA and BA in the 3 groups all increased significantly in comparison with their own pretreatment（ P 〈 0.05, 0.01）, and the therapeutic effects of acu-massage group in the 3 indexes were significantly superior to those of acupuncture group and/or massage group （P 〈0.05, 0.01 ）. The abnormally increased Vp of VA in acu-massage and acupuncture groups, Vm of VA in the 3 groups, and Vd of VA in acu-massage and massage groups decreased obviously after the treatment in comparison with their own pretreatment （P 〈 0.05, 0.01）, and the therapeutic effects of acu-massage group were significantly superior to those of acupuncture and/or massage group in the 3 indexes of VA （P〈0.05, 0.01）. In addition, the abnormally increased Vp, Vm and Vd of BA in the 3 groups showed a similar tendency. No significant differences between acupuncture and massage groups in 3 indexes （ P 〉0.05）. Conclusion： The therapeutic effects of acupuncture plus massage is significantly superior to those of simple acupuncture and simple massage therapies in improving abnormal blood dynamics of vertebral and basilar arteries in CSVAT patients.

Characteristics of blood glucose excursions in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with three different Traditional Chinese Medicine syndromes

OBJECTIVE:To explore the characteristics of blood glucose excursions of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with three different Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) syndromes.METHODS:One hundred and nine patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited from the Department of Endocrinology and the Department of TCM of the Sixth People's Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University.Subjects were divided into three groups according to TCM syndrome:intrinsic Damp(n- 42),Yin deficiency and internal Heat(n = 25),and Qi and Yin deficiency(n- 42).Subcutaneous interstitial glucose was monitored with a continuous glucose monitoring system for 3consecutive days to investigate the glycemic profile in each group.Plasma C-peptide levels were measured,and an arginine test was taken in 10 patients randomly selected from each group.Glucose data and glycemic variability were analyzed to investigate the differences among the groups.The change in C-peptide levels and the results from arginine trial were used to evaluate β cell function.RESULTS:Indicators reflecting blood glucose level were the highest in subjects with Yin deficiency and internal Heat syndrome,and parameters reflecting glycemic variability were the lowest in those with Qi and Yin deficiency syndrome.The change in C-peptide levels showed that subjects with Qi and Yin deficiency syndrome had the best βcell function among the three groups;this was confirmed by the arginine trial.CONCLUSION:Patients with Qi and Yin deficiency syndrome had a more stable blood glucose profile,as glycemic variability was higher in those with intrinsic Damp syndrome and those with Yin deficiency and internal Heat syndrome.