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OBJECTIVES@#To observe the clinical efficacy of moxibustion as an adjunctive treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) based on conventional medication and its effects on serum sclerostin (SOST) and β-catenin levels, exploring the potential mechanisms by which moxibustion may protect joint bones in RA patients.@*METHODS@#Seventy-six RA patients were randomly divided into an observation group (38 cases, 3 cases dropped out) and a control group (38 cases, 4 cases were eliminated, 2 cases dropped out). The patients in the control group were treated with conventional oral medication; based on the treatment of the control group, the patients in the observation group were treated with moxibustion. The direct moxibustion was applied at Zusanli (ST 36) on both sides and ashi points around small joints, and indirect moxibustion was applied at Shenshu (BL 23) on both sides and ashi points around large joints. The treatment was given three times a week for a total of 5 weeks. The count of pain and swollen joint, morning stiffness score, disease activity score of 28 joints (DAS28), visual analogue scale (VAS) score, health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) score, and serum levels of SOST, β-catenin, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were evaluated before and after treatment in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#Compared those before treatment, after treatment, both groups showed a reduction in pain and swollen joint count (P<0.01, P<0.05), morning stiffness, DAS28, VAS, and HAQ scores (P<0.01, P<0.05), with the observation group having lower scores than the control group (P<0.01). Serum levels of SOST, β-catenin, and TNF-α after treatment in the observation group were lower than those in both before treatment and the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between the difference in serum β-catenin levels before and after treatment and the difference in serum SOST (r=0.578, P<0.001) and TNF-α (r=0.403, P<0.05) levels in the observation group.@*CONCLUSIONS@#In addition to medication, moxibustion as an adjunctive treatment could significantly alleviate joint pain and reduce disease activity in RA patients, suggesting a potential role in joint protection. This mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the inflammatory factor TNF-α, regulation of β-catenin levels, and reduction in the production of the endogenous negative regulator protein SOST within the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
Subject(s)
Humans , Moxibustion , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha , beta Catenin , Acupuncture Points , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/therapy , Arthralgia , Adaptor Proteins, Signal TransducingABSTRACT
Cost management is an indispensable part of the economic management of public hospitals,but there are still some problems in the cost control of public hospitals in China.The work of budget management and cost accounting just stays on the surface.Hospitals are running on a large scale and spending too much to make waste.Rules and regulations are incomplete.Staff awareness of cost control is indifferent.The internal audit supervision mechanism is incomplete.Establishing comprehensive budget management is helpful for hospital managers to make decisions,which can effectively improve the cost consciousness of all staff in hospitals,and reduce the management cost of hospital.The goal of cost control should be clearly defined in public hospitals.Hospitals should improve the rules and regulations of cost control.The capital structure of the hospital and the efficiency of fund utilization should be improved.The management of human cost should be taken into account and the idea of cost control should be established.Internal audit supervision should be strengthened.
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Under the construction of health and family planning comprehensive supervision system,the main problems hindering the development of the health family planning comprehensive supervision are summarized through the analysis of the present situation of legislation,executive system and health-law enforcement team.It is suggested to formulate the basic health law,and perfect the legal system;promote the construction of comprehensive supervision system,and consolidate the resources of administrative law enforcement;strengthen the construction of law-enforcing team,and improve law enforcement efficiency and service quality.
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Objective:To investigate the effect of inhibiting of BAG-1 gene expression on proliferation and apoptosis of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.Methods:siRNA of BAG-1 was transfected in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma A431 by Lipo-fectamineTM2000,cells were transfected for 48 h,the BAG-1 mRNA expression was detected by RT-PCR,BAG-1 protein expression was detected by Western blot;CCK8 and flow cytometry were used to detect the cell proliferation and apoptosis;Western blot was used to detect the expression of Bax,β-catenin and Survivin protein;IL-6 and VEGF content were detected by ELISA kit.Results:Compared with control group and negative control group,transfection of BAG-1 with siRNA could significantly inhibit the expression of BAG-1 at the transcriptional and translational levels;compared with the control group,the cells proliferation in BAG-1-siRNA group significantly decreased,apoptosis rate was significantly increased,Bax protein expression was up-regulated,expression of β-catenin,Survivin protein were down regulated,the contents of IL-6 and VEGF were decreased significantly(P<0.05).Conclusion:Silencing of BAG-1 expression can reduce the proliferation of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma,promote apoptosis,up regulate Bax expression and down regulate the expression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway,and reduce the secretion of IL-6 and VEGF factors.
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This study aimed to investigate the effects of baldrinal of Valeriana jatamansi on the expression of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) and tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) mRNA and levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in colon of rats with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and to explain its therapeutic mechanism on IBS through 5-HT pathway. Fifty-four male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: blank group, model group, baldrinal high, medium and low dose groups, and pinaverium bromide group, n=9 in each group. The IBS rat models were established by using unpredictable chronic stress for 3 weeks followed by 1-hour acute restraint stress (CAS) after 7 days of rest and independent feeding. CRF expression was detected by IHC-P; TPH1 mRNA expression was detected by using RT-PCR and the 5-HT level was measured by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). The results indicated that the method of chronic stress with acute restrain stress method and independent feeding could lead to the increase in expressions of CRF and TPH1 mRNA and levels of 5-HT in IBS rats(P<0.05). The expressions of CRF, TPH1 mRNA and 5-HT in baldrinal groups were significantly lower than those in model group(P<0.05). The experimental results showed that IBS could result in increase in the expressions of CRF, TPH1 mRNA and levels of 5-HT, and the baldrinal of V. jatamansi could improve the symptoms of IBS by reducing the expressions of CRF, TPH1 mRNA and levels of 5-HT in colon of rats.
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Qumazi is a commonly used Tibetan medicine. With a long history, it can be found in the Four Medical Tantras written by gYu-thog rNying-ma Yon-tan mGon-po since the 8th century AD. Qumazi grows in mudflats and fields, including species growing in highlands, lowlands, mountains and farmlands. According to records in Crystal Beads Materia Medica, it features green sword-shaped leaves, thin stems with red veins, inserted panicles, white chicken-like flowers and copper needle row-like roots. However, there are many inconsistent morphological descriptions for Qumazi plants in many Chinese versions of Tibetan medicine books. In this article, after studying ancient and modern Tibetan medicine books, consulting experts and conducting surveys, the authors confirmed that Qumazi belongs to Rheum of Polygonaceae, including Rheum nobile Hook. f. et. Thoms, R. globulosum Gage, R. alexandrae Hook. f. et. Thoms, R. pumilum Maxim and R. delavayi Franch. In some regions, Qumazi is substituted by R. spiciforme Royle and R. przewalskyi Losinsk. After the Chinese version of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Drug Illustrations was published in 1972, Qumazi has been miswritten as P. sibiricum Laxm in many Chinese versions of Tibetan medicine books, perhaps because P. sibiricum Laxm has many similar features with Qumazi as described in Crystal Beads Materia Medica and then is mistranslated from Tibetan to Chinese versions. According to records, Qumazi can reduce edema and is mainly applied to treat the minamata disease in clinic.