Exp Ther Med
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Biqi capsule is a Traditional Chinese Medicine preparation for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and clinical studies have indicatedthat its effect may be more beneficial than that of Western medicine. The present study aimed to estimate the efficacy and safety of Biqi capsule alone or combined with methotrexate (MTX) compared with MTX alone for treating RA by performing a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials. A systematic literature search of studies published until March 2017 was performed. ⋯ In the other words, Biqi capsule plus MTX is more effective and has fewer AEs compared to MTX. However, the trials selected in the present meta-analysis have various limitations, including the lack of blinding and the short duration of the treatment; therefore, the conclusions are not sufficiently definitive. More randomized controlled trials are necessary to evaluate the use of Biqi capsule for managing RA.
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Immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive properties of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) facilitate the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute lung injury (ALI). Dysregulated miRNA (miRNA or miR) expression associated with the effects of BM-MSCs was assessed in a rat model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI. The present study performed biochemical tests to assess five analytes, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (CREA). ⋯ In summary, BM-MSCs improved multi-organ damage and attenuated lung injury. Different miRNA profiles were expressed following BM-MSC treatment of ALI. These dysregulated miRNAs participated in BM-MSC-mediated immunomodulation of ALI.
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Mild hypothermia combined with minimally invasive hematoma evacuation was evaluated in the treatment of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage to reduce inflammatory response of brain tissue around hematoma and ameliorate brain function, and to investigate its safety, effectiveness and feasibility. A total of 206 patients with acute spontaneous hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage were collected clinically and randomly divided into minimally invasive hematoma evacuation group (group A) and mild hypothermia combined with minimally invasive hematoma evacuation (group B). The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was used before and after treatment. ⋯ The serum TNF-α content and expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in brain tissue around hematoma reached the peak on the 3rd day. The TNF-α content and NF-κB expression were lower in group B than those in group A at each time-point (P<0.05). Mild hypothermia combined with minimally invasive hematoma evacuation can reduce the damage of hematoma to the surrounding brain tissue, effectively alleviate inflammatory response and decrease brain tissue injury, thus ameliorating brain function.
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Recurrent patellar dislocations were treated via knee arthroscopy combined with C-arm fluoroscopy, and reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligaments. Between October 2013 and March 2017, 52 cases of recurrent patellar dislocation [27 males and 25 females; age, 16-47 years (mean, 21.90 years)] were treated. Arthroscopic exploration was performed and patellofemoral joint cartilage injuries were repaired. ⋯ At the end of follow-up, the patellofemoral angle (0.22±4.23°), lateral patellofemoral angle (3.44±1.30°), and lateral shift (0.36+0.14°) differed significantly from the pre-operative values (all, P<0.05). Furthermore, IKDC and Lysholm scores (87.84+3.74 and 87.48+3.35, respectively) differed significantly from the pre-operative values (both, P<0.05). These findings suggest that, in the short term, recurrent patellar dislocation treatment via knee arthroscopy combined with C-arm fluoroscopy and reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament was effective.