Research Hotspots and Development Trends on Apolipoprotein B in the Field of Atherosclerosis: A Bibliometric Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases caused by atherosclerosis (AS) are the leading causes of disability and death worldwide. Apolipoprotein B (ApoB), the core protein of low-density lipoproteins, is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease-related morbidity and mortality, with apolipoprotein B (ApoB) playing a critical role in its pathogenesis. However, no bibliometric studies on the involvement of ApoB in AS have been published. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to explore the current and future trends regarding the role of ApoB in AS. METHODS: Utilizing the Web of Science Core Collection, a thorough search was conducted for ApoB in AS-related papers related to research on ApoB in the field of AS during 1991-2023. The analysis focused on annual publication trends, leading countries/regions and institutions, influential authors, journal and key journals. CiteSpace and VOSviewer were employed to visualize reference co-citations, and keyword co-occurrences, offering insights into the research landscape and emerging trends. RESULTS: This bibliometric analysis employed network diagrams for cluster analysis of a total of 2105 articles and reviews, evidencing a discernible upward trend in annual publication volume. This corpus of research emanates from 76 countries/regions and 2343 organizations, illustrating the widespread international engagement in ApoB-related AS studies. Notably, the United States and the University of California emerge as the most prolific contributors, which underscores their pivotal roles in advancing this research domain. The thematic investigation has increasingly focused on elucidating the mechanistic involvement of ApoB in atherosclerosis, its potential as a diagnostic biomarker, and its implications for therapeutic strategies. CONCLUSION: This bibliometric analysis provides the first comprehensive perspective on the evolving promise of ApoB in AS-related research, emphasizing the importance of this molecule in opening up new diagnostic and therapeutic avenues. This study emphasizes the need for continued research and interdisciplinary efforts to strengthen the fight against AS. Furthermore, it emphasizes the critical role of international collaboration and interdisciplinary exploration in leveraging new insights to achieve clinical breakthroughs, thereby addressing the complexities of AS by focusing on ApoB.

Enhancing insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes mellitus using apelin-loaded small extracellular vesicles from Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells: a novel therapeutic approach.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), characterized by ß-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance (IR), presents considerable treatment challenges. Apelin is an adipocyte-derived factor that shows promise in improving IR; however, it is limited by poor targeting and a short half-life. In the present study, engineered small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) derived from Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) loaded with apelin were used to address the limitations of the therapeutic application of apelin. METHODS: WJ-MSCs were transduced to obtain engineered sEVs loaded with overexpressed apelin (apelin-MSC-sEVs) and the control sEVs (MSC-sEVs). T2DM mice were injected with apelin-MSC-sEVs and MSC-sEVs, and blood glucose monitoring, glucose and insulin tolerance tests, confocal microscopy, and immunocytochemical analysis were performed. IR models of 3T3-L1 adipocytes were employed to detect GLUT4 expression in each group using western blotting; the affected pathways were determined by measuring the changes in Akt and AMPK signaling and phosphorylation. RESULTS: Upon successful engineering, WJ-MSCs demonstrated significant overexpression of apelin. The genetic modification did not adversely impact the characteristics of sEVs, ranging from surface protein markers, morphology, to particle size, but generated apelin-overexpressed sEVs. Apelin-MSC-sEVs treatment resulted in notable enhancement of Akt and AMPK pathway activities within 3T3-L1 adipocytes and adipose tissues of T2DM mice. Furthermore, the apelin-loaded sEVs significantly reduced plasma glucose levels, increased pancreatic ß-cell proliferation, improved insulin and glucose tolerance, and modulated pro-inflammatory cytokine profiles, compared to mice treated with the control sEVs. CONCLUSION: Our study developed novel genetically engineered apelin-loaded sEVs derived from WJ-MSCs, and demonstrated their potent role in augmenting insulin sensitivity and regulating inflammatory responses, highlighting their therapeutic promise in T2DM management. The findings open new avenues for the development of clinically viable treatments for T2DM in humans using the apelin-loaded sEVs.

Dysregulation of sphingolipid metabolism in pain.

Pain is a clinical condition that is currently of great concern and is often caused by tissue or nerve damage or occurs as a concomitant symptom of a variety of diseases such as cancer. Severe pain seriously affects the functional status of the body. However, existing pain management programs are not fully satisfactory. Therefore, there is a need to delve deeper into the pathological mechanisms underlying pain generation and to find new targets for drug therapy. Sphingolipids (SLs), as a major component of the bilayer structure of eukaryotic cell membranes, also have powerful signal transduction functions. Sphingolipids are abundant, and their intracellular metabolism constitutes a huge network. Sphingolipids and their various metabolites play significant roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, etc., and have powerful biological activities. The molecules related to sphingolipid metabolism, mainly the core molecule ceramide and the downstream metabolism molecule sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), are involved in the specific mechanisms of neurological disorders as well as the onset and progression of various types of pain, and are closely related to a variety of pain-related diseases. Therefore, sphingolipid metabolism can be the focus of research on pain regulation and provide new drug targets and ideas for pain.

Case report of CT-guided lung biopsy complicated by air embolism.

Rationale: Cerebral arterial air embolism is a rare but potentially fatal complication of computed tomography (CT) guided lung biopsy. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) is the first line of treatment for arterial gas embolism and needs to be administered immediately after the event. Early HBO2 can reduce the mortality rate of cerebrovascular air embolism. Patient Concerns: A 65-year-old woman was diagnosed with a pulmonary nodule with a diameter of approximately 0.8 cm in the right lower lung. The patient developed consciousness, convulsions, and arrhythmia after CT-guided lung biopsy. Diagnosis: Cranial CT revealed arborizing/linearly distributed gas in the right temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes and left frontal and parietal lobes. Chest CT showed a small amount of pneumothorax. Interventions: The patient was administered HBO2 twice and received other medical treatments and bone flap decompressive craniectomy. Outcomes: The patient developed multiple acute cerebral infarctions and even brain herniation complicated with acute myocardial infarction. Three months after the event, the patient's consciousness was still "open eyes coma" and GCS score was 8t points (E4VtM4). Head CT showed multiple cerebral infarctions and softening lesions. ECG showed sinus rhythm, normal range of the electrocardiogram axis, T wave change, and low voltage on the limb leads. Lessons: Cerebral arterial air embolism is a serious complication of CT-guided lung biopsy. The recommended standard HBO2 should be used as early as possible. However, too severe an injury caused by severe arterial air embolism may not be significantly improved by one to two sessions of HBO2.

CHA2DS2-VASc score as a prognostic indicator in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing coronary stenting.

BACKGROUND: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and coronary stenting had a poor prognosis. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of CHA2DS2-VASc score for predicting and grading adverse clinical outcomes in this population. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical data of all patients with previously documented nonvalvular AF who underwent coronary stenting between January 2010 and June 2015 in 12 hospitals of Beijing, China. The study population was divided into three groups: 1) Low CHA2DS2-VASc score, ≦ 2 points, 2) Intermediate score, 3-4 points, and 3) High score, ≧ 5 points. Major adverse cardiac/cerebrovascular events (MACCE) were defined as a composite of all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization and ischemic stroke/systemic thromboembolism (IS/SE). RESULTS: A total of 2394 patients (men: 72.3% vs. women: 27.7%, median age: 67 years) were included, with the CHA2 DS2-VASc score of 3.6 ± 1.6. The median follow-up duration was 36.2 months. All-cause mortality increased 3 folds from the low score (4.8%) to the high score group (15.8%). The high score group had more IS/SE (7.4%) and MACCE (26.3%). The CHA2 DS2-VASc score ≧ 5 points was independently associated with all-cause death (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.303, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.492- 3.555), IS/SE (HR: 4.169, 95% CI: 2.216-7.845) and MACCE (HR: 1.468, 95% CI: 1.113-1.936) on multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the CHA2DS2-VASc score was 0.644 (95% CI: 0.624-0.663) for all-cause death, 0.647 (95% CI: 0.627-0.666) for IS/SE, and 0.592 (95% CI: 0.572-0.611) for MACCE. DISCUSSION: CHA2DS2-VASc score was a reliable prognostic indicator in patients with AF and coronary stenting.

Predictive models for adverse clinical outcomes in Chinese patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate predictors for adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing coronary stenting. METHODS: We retrospectively recruited consecutive patients with previously documented non-valvular AF who underwent coronary stenting between January 2010 and June 2015 in 12 hospitals of Beijing, China. Major adverse cardiac/cerebrovascular events (MACCE) were a composite of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization, and ischaemic stroke/systemic thromboembolism (IS/STE). Major bleeding referred to grade 2 or higher of Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria. RESULTS: A total of 2394 patients (men: 72.3% vs. women: 27.7%, median age: 67 years) were included. The CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED were 3.6 ± 1.6 and 1.9 ± 0.7, respectively. The median follow-up duration was 36.2 months. There were 230 (9.6%) deaths, 96 (4.0%) IS/STE, 426 (17.8%) MACCE, and 72 (3.0%) major bleeding. Multivariate Cox regression yielded predictive models for (1) all-cause death: diabetes, prior myocardial infarction, chronic kidney disease (CKD), ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) at presentation, heart failure, no use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, and statins; (2) IS/STE: advanced age, prior history of ischaemic stroke and intracranial haemorrhage; (3) MACCE: prior history of myocardial infarction and ischaemic stroke, CKD, STEMI, heart failure, and no statin use; (4) major bleeding: prior major bleeding, prior myocardial infarction, CKD and use of oral anticoagulants. CONCLUSION: Chinese patients with AF and coronary stenting had high mortality and incidence of MACCE. We compiled separate predictive models for all-cause death, IS/STE, MACCE, and major bleeding.

Sex difference in clinical outcomes of Chinese patients with atrial fibrillation and coronary stenting according to age.

OBJECTIVE: Sex differences in the clinical outcomes of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and coronary stenting should be assessed according to age. METHODS: We analyzed the clinical data of all patients with nonvalvular AF who underwent coronary stenting between January 2010 and June 2015 in 12 hospitals of Beijing, China. RESULTS: A total of 2,146 patients (71.8% men and 28.2% women) were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 66.6±9.4 years. Women in this study were older and had higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and anemia. Smoking history was found to be higher in men, and women were less likely to be current smokers. The mean follow-up duration was 39.7 months. Women younger than 65 years had a remarkably higher mortality (11.2% vs. 5.3%, p=0.012) and a significantly lower rate of repeat revascularization (1.6% vs. 6.3%, p=0.034) than men. Female gender remained an independent predictor for all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR)=2.03, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09-3.79, p=0.025], along with heart failure (HR=3.64, 95% CI: 2.02-6.57, p<0.001) and CKD (HR=2.46, 95% CI: 1.09-5.57, p=0.031) after multivariate regression analysis. No significant difference was noted between men and women with regard to mortality, ischemic events, and major bleeding in elderly patients. CONCLUSION: In Chinese patients younger than 65 years with AF and coronary stenting, female gender was independently associated with increased mortality; men were more likely to receive repeat revascularization possibly due to the current smoking. Whether it was a biological difference or a recognition disparity of the disease between men and women warrants further investigation.

Astragalus polysaccharide alleviates H2O2-triggered oxidative injury in human umbilical vein endothelial cells via promoting KLF2.

The damage of vascular endothelial cells has become an indispensable factor in the occurrence and advancement of cardiovascular diseases. In the current study, we investigated the effect of Astragalus Polysacharin (APS) on H2O2-evoked oxidative injury in HUVECs. HUVECs cells were treated by H2O2 to induce oxidative damage. Cells viability, apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level were detected through CCK8 assay and flow cytometry. The cell growth-related proteins and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) and KLF2 expression were evaluated via Western blot assay. The functions of KLF2 in APS and H2O2 co-disposed HUVECs were explored after si-KLF2 transfection. MEK/ERK pathway was finally measured through Western blot. We found that H2O2 stimulation-evoked HUVECs oxidative damage meanwhile impeded HO-1 expression. APS treatment effectively suppressed H2O2-induced oxidative injury in HUVECs. KLF2 and Nrf2 expression were elevated by APS and KLF2 repression abolished the protective action of APS in H2O2-triggered cell injury. MEK/ERK pathway was activated by APS treatment. Furthermore, the MEK/ERK pathway inhibitor weakened the promoting effect of APS on the expression of KLF2. In conclusion, our study reveals that APS alleviates H2O2-triggered oxidative injury in HUVECs via elevating the expression of KLF2 via the MEK/ERK pathway.

Analysis of Ticagrelor's Cardio-protective Effects on Patients with ST-segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome Accompanied with Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the cardio-protective effects of ticagrelor in patients with acute coronary syndrome with S-T segment elevation. METHODS: The sample was 200 patients who had been diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome accompanied by diabetes Mellitus type II. Only patients having ST segment elevation before the treatment were included. Then, the subjects were further randomly divided into an observation group and a control group. The control group of 100 patients received clopidogrel; the observation group of 100 patients of ticagrelor. The serous creatine kinase CK-MB, functional cardiac indexes of left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVDD), cardiac troponin I, ventricular ejection fraction, and relevant major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: One month after a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) the observation group showed better results against angina, stent thrombosis, and all-cause mortality compared with those of the control subjects. Six months after treatment, both groups suffered adverse reactions. The number of patients who suffered adverse reactions in respiratory tract in the observation group was higher than in the control group. The inhibition of platelet aggregation IPA of ticagrelor was found to be significantly higher than clopidogrel, having a significant p value. CONCLUSION: Ticagrelor can effectively protect myocardial function for patients with ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome accompanied by diabetes and can reduce the incidence of adverse reactions..

Prevalence and composition of CHD at different altitudes in Tibet: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of CHD has been well described worldwide except in Tibet. This study aimed to illustrate the prevalence and composition of CHD in Tibetan children according to altitude. Methods and results In the first part, we prospectively recruited 7088 unselected Tibetan children (4-17 years) from south-west Tibet. The total prevalence of CHD increased from 4.6/1000 below 4200 m to 13.4/1000 above 4700 m, with a female-to-male ratio of 1.3:3.1. The total prevalence and female prevalence of patent ductus arteriosus increased more than 10-fold. Females living above 4700 m had exceptionally high prevalence of patent ductus arteriosus (14.9/1000). The prevalence of atrial septal defect was comparable among different altitudes (3.3-3.8/1000). The prevalence of ventricular septal defect was 1.3/1000 below 4700 m, and no cases were found above this altitude. In the second part, we retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 383 CHD children in Tibet and 73 children at lower altitudes. The percentage of isolated ventricular septal defect decreased from 54.8 to 3.1%, and the percentage of isolated patent ductus arteriosus increased from 8.2 to 68.4% with elevation. Children living below 4200 m (10.4-13.7%) had a larger proportion of complex CHD than those above this altitude (2.0-3.1%). Of the 20 Tibetan children with complex CHD, 14 (70.0%) lived below 4200 m. CONCLUSIONS: A wide variation in CHD prevalence and composition existed in Tibetan children among different altitudes.

MiR-103 inhibits osteoblast proliferation mainly through suppressing Cav1.2 expression in simulated microgravity.

Emerging evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in modulating osteoblast function and bone formation. However, the influence of miRNA on osteoblast proliferation and the possible mechanisms underlying remain to be defined. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether miR-103 regulates osteoblast proliferation under simulated microgravity condition through regulating Cav1.2, the primary subunit of L-type voltage sensitive calcium channels (LTCCs). We first investigated the effect of simulated microgravity on osteoblast proliferation and the outcomes clearly demonstrated that the mechanical unloading inhibits MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cell proliferation. Using quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR), we provided data showing that miR-103 was up-regulated in response to simulated microgravity. In addition, we observed that up-regulation of miR-103 inhibited and down-regulation of miR-103 promoted osteoblast proliferation under simulated microgravity condition. Furthermore, knocking-down or over-expressing miR-103, respectively, up- or down-regulated the level of Cav1.2 expression and LTCC currents, suggesting that miR-103 acts as an endogenous attenuator of Cav1.2 in osteoblasts under simulated microgravity condition. More importantly, we showed that the effect of miR-103 on osteoblast proliferation was diminished in simulated microgravity, when co-transfecting miR-103 mimic or inhibitor with Cav1.2 siRNA. Taken together, our data suggest that miR-103 inhibits osteoblast proliferation mainly through suppression of Cav1.2 expression under simulated microgravity condition. This work may provide a novel mechanism of microgravity-induced detrimental effects on osteoblast proliferation, identifying miR-103 as a novel possible therapeutic target in bone remodeling disorders in this mechanical unloading.

Simulated microgravity inhibits L-type calcium channel currents partially by the up-regulation of miR-103 in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts.

L-type voltage-sensitive calcium channels (LTCCs), particularly Cav1.2 LTCCs, play fundamental roles in cellular responses to mechanical stimuli in osteoblasts. Numerous studies have shown that mechanical loading promotes bone formation, whereas the removal of this stimulus under microgravity conditions results in a reduction in bone mass. However, whether microgravity exerts an influence on LTCCs in osteoblasts and whether this influence is a possible mechanism underlying the observed bone loss remain unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated that simulated microgravity substantially inhibited LTCC currents and suppressed Cav1.2 at the protein level in MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells. In addition, reduced Cav1.2 protein levels decreased LTCC currents in MC3T3-E1 cells. Moreover, simulated microgravity increased miR-103 expression. Cav1.2 expression and LTCC current densities both significantly increased in cells that were transfected with a miR-103 inhibitor under mechanical unloading conditions. These results suggest that simulated microgravity substantially inhibits LTCC currents in osteoblasts by suppressing Cav1.2 expression. Furthermore, the down-regulation of Cav1.2 expression and the inhibition of LTCCs caused by mechanical unloading in osteoblasts are partially due to miR-103 up-regulation. Our study provides a novel mechanism for microgravity-induced detrimental effects on osteoblasts, offering a new avenue to further investigate the bone loss induced by microgravity.

Prevalence and predictors of decreased glomerular filtration rate in tibetan children with congenital heart disease.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in Tibetan children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and its associated risk factors. METHODS: A total of 207 Tibetan children attending authors' center for treatment of CHD from May 2012 through November 2012, were included in the study. GFR was estimated with the Schwartz formula (eGFR). RESULTS: The mean eGFR was 104.3±16.6 mL/min/1.73 m2, and decreased in 21 children (10.1%). In the cyanotic category, eGFR was decreased only in severely cyanotic individuals. In the acyanotic category with left ventricular overload, children with decreased eGFR were younger, more commonly lived in areas above 4,700 m, and had higher left ventricular internal dimensions indexed by body surface areas (LVID/BSA) (53.8±6.9 vs. 40.1±6.8 mm/m2, P<0.001) compared with those with normal eGFR. Multivariate analysis identified LVID/BSA as the only independent predictor for decreased eGFR (OR: 1.329, 95% CI: 1.177~1.501, P<0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed the area under curve for LVID/BSA was 0.921 (95% CI: 0.863 ~ 0.980, P<0.001), with the optimal cutoff value of 49.8 mm/m2 (sensitivity: 75.0%, specificity: 93.9%). In the remaining category, decreased eGFR was only observed in those living above 4,700 m. CONCLUSIONS: One tenth of Tibetan children with CHD had decreased eGFR. The risk factors included severe cyanosis, younger age, living above 4,700 m and higher LVID/BSA.

Prevalence of symptomatic congenital heart disease in Tibetan school children.

The prevalence of congenital heart disease (CHD) in Tibet has not been fully investigated. The aim of this study was to illustrate and compare the prevalence of symptomatic CHD and its major subtypes in Tibetan children at different altitudes. A total of 5,790 children from regions at altitudes of 3,500 to 4,100 m (group L) and 4,548 children from 4,200 to 4,900 m (group H) were compared for CHD prevalence. Group H had greater prevalence of total CHD (12.09 vs 4.32 per 1,000, p <0.001), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA, 7.70 vs 1.38 per 1,000, p <0.001), and atrial septal defect (ASD, 3.52 vs 2.25 per 1,000, p = 0.23) than group L. The differences were more remarkable in women (CHD, 18.63 vs 4.88 per 1,000, p <0.001; PDA, 11.53 vs 1.74 per 1,000, p <0.001; ASD, 5.32 vs 2.79 per 1,000, p = 0.15). No significant difference was observed in the prevalence of ventricular septal defect between the 2 groups (0.44 vs 0.35 per 1,000, p >0.05). The most common cardiac defect was ASD (52.0%) in group L compared with PDA (63.6%) in group H. In group L, women had slightly and insignificantly greater prevalence of total CHD, PDA, and ASD than men. In contrast, the prevalence was almost threefold greater in women than men in group H. In conclusion, the CHD prevalence and composition differed significantly between populations of school children living above and below 4,200 m.

[Quantitative evaluation of the degrees of traditional Chinese medicine qualitative syndromes of osteoporosis].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a quantitative estimate model for diagnosing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes of patients with osteoporosis. METHODS: Symptoms and signs of osteoporosis and methodology related to syndrome research were collected by reviewing medical literature. The symptoms and sighs were quantitatively classified into three, two or one category according to a 100-mm visual analog scale. Fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model of TCM qualitative syndromes was performed based on analytic hierarchy process. Then "Hall for Workshop of Metasynthetic Engineering" expert symposium was held on subjects of syndrome quantification method and weight of evaluation indices in different levels for developing the analysis model of common syndromes. For clinical verification, the created models were applied to patients with osteoporosis for discriminating syndromes. Syndrome of each patient was also identified by 8 experts major in integrative medicine treating osteoporosis for comparing the coincidence rate using a self-made clinical questionnaire. RESULTS: Through literature reviewing, symptoms and signs quantification and expert discussing, the authors formed estimate models of essence deficit, qi deficiency, yin deficiency, yang deficiency, and blood stasis. A total of 220 patients with osteoporosis were enrolled and filled the clinical questionnaire. All 8 experts completed and returned the questionnaire (1 760 cases), and 1 545 of them were filled in completely. Experts' opinion on syndrome differentiation was exactly coincidence to estimate model in 611 cases and almost coincidence in 639 cases. The total coincidence rate reached to 94.05%. CONCLUSION: The estimate model for syndrome differentiation of osteoporosis has a high-coincidence rate with the fuzzy evaluation from experts, with good rationality and feasibility, and is worthy of promotion in the clinical study.

[A study of diagnostic criteria for traditional Chinese medicine syndromes in osteoporosis].

OBJECTIVE: To establish diagnostic criteria for common traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes in osteoporosis. METHODS: Based on the collection and analysis of related medical literature, clinical investigation, and expert discussion, a draft of preliminary diagnostic criteria for the basic syndromes of TCM in patients with osteoporosis was formulated. Then it was used in clinic for verification and revised repeatedly until a formal version of diagnostic criteria was satisfactorily achieved. RESULTS: The basic syndromes listed in the diagnostic criteria for patients with osteoporosis consisted of two parts: qualitative diagnosis and localization diagnosis. Results of qualitative diagnosis showed that the qualitative syndromes included damage of essence, deficiency of vital energy, deficiency of yin, deficiency of yang and blood stasis. The localization diagnosis showed that location of osteoporosis is bone and corresponds to the kidney, and also involves liver, lung, spleen (stomach) and heart. The diagnostic content has established the specific symptoms and the non-specific symptoms during various stages. Each of the above syndromes could be diagnosed according to a specific combination of its corresponding symptoms or signs. The clinical verification results showed that the total matching ratio of qualitative diagnosis was 80.56% between the diagnoses made according to the criteria and the diagnoses acquired from the experts' experience, and the total matching ratio of localization diagnosis was 85.56%. CONCLUSION: The TCM syndrome diagnostic criteria for osteoporosis is generally consistent with TCM clinical practice, worthy of further popularization and application in clinical practice.

[Quantitative evaluation of the degrees of qualitative syndromes commonly encountered in patients with coronary heart disease].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a quantitative model for evaluating the degree of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes often seen in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: Medical literature concerning clinical investigation of TCM syndromes of CHD was collected and organized, and the "Hall for Workshop of Metasynthetic Engineering" expert symposium method was applied. First, the 100 millimeter scaling was used for combining with scoring on degree of symptoms to establish a quantitative criterion for classification of symptom degree in CHD patients, and the model was established by using comprehensive analytic hierarchy process as the mathematical tool to estimate the weight of the criterion for evaluating qualitative syndromes in various layers by specialists. Then the model was verified in clinical practice and the outcomes were compared with fuzzy evaluation from the specialists. RESULTS: A total of 287 clinical observation forms on CHD cases were collected, and 167 forms were available after excluding any irregular forms. The results showed that basic coincidence rate between the outcomes derived from specialists and those from the model was 68.26% (114/167), and part coincidence rate was 88.62%(148/167). CONCLUSION: This model, with good rationality and feasibility, has a high coincidence rate with fuzzy evaluation from specialists, and can be promoted in clinical practice. It is a good quantitative model for evaluating the degree of TCM syndromes of CHD.

[Evaluation of Chinese version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Hepatobiliary questionnaire].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Hepatobiliary (FACT-Hep) questionnaire in measuring the quality of life in patients with primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC) in China. METHODS: FACT-Hep questionnaire was translated into Chinese and revised properly. From September 2005 to April 2006, one hundred and eighty patients with primary liver carcinoma were admitted and measured by using the Chinese version of FACT-Hep questionnaire, and the reliabilities, validities and responsibilities of the questionnaire were assessed. RESULTS: Correlation coefficient was higher between items and dimension of their corresponding domain (0.5933+/-0.1652) than that between the items and other domains (0.2749+/-0.1922). Six principal constituents were extracted by factor analysis and represented all domains of the questionnaire. The combinations of components were consistent with what was expected. The correlation coefficient of criterion-related validity was 0.828. The test-retest reliability correlation coefficients of physical, social/family, emotion, function, symptom and total questionnaire were 0.731, 0.334, 0.953, 0.786, 0.785 and 0.801 respectively, and the values of Cronbach's alpha were 0.7397, 0.4193, 0.7914, 0.8250, 0.8399 and 0.9161, respectively. There were statistical differences in scores of FACT-Hep questionnaire in different PHC stages or in different Child-Pugh classes (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The FACT-Hep questionnaire can measure the quality of life in patients with PHC with good reliability, validity and responsiveness; it can be used in assessing the disease-specific health-related quality of life of patients with hepatobiliary cancers.

[Study on the quantitative evaluation on the degree of TCM basic syndromes often encountered in patients with primary liver cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a quantitative model for evaluating the degree of the TCM basic syndromes often encountered in patients with primary liver cancer (PLC). METHODS: Medical literatures concerning the clinical investigation and TCM syndrome of PLC were collected and analyzed adopting expert-composed symposium method, and the 100 millimeter scaling was applied in combining with scoring on degree of symptoms to establish a quantitative criterion for symptoms and signs degree classification in patients with PLC. Two models, i.e. the additive model and the additive-multiplicative model, were established by using comprehensive analytic hierarchy process (AHP) as the mathematical tool to estimate the weight of the criterion for evaluating basic syndromes in various layers by specialists. Then the two models were verified in clinical practice and the outcomes were compared with that fuzzy evaluated by specialists. RESULTS: Verification on 459 times/case of PLC showed that the coincidence rate between the outcomes derived from specialists with that from the additive model was 84.53 %, and with that from the additive-multificative model was 62.75 %, the difference between the two showed statistical significance (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: It could be decided that the additive model is the principle model suitable for quantitative evaluation on the degree of TCM basic syndromes in patients with PLC.