DOES IT WORK? -a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of HCV and HIV-related education on drug users in MMT, China.

Background: HCV (Hepatitis C virus) is a prevalent chronic disease with potentially deadly consequences, especially for drug users. However, there are no special HCV or HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)-related intervention programs that are tailored for drug users in China; to fill this gap, the purpose of this study was to explore HCV and HIV-related knowledge among drug users in MMT (methadone maintenance treatment) sites of China and to investigate the effectiveness of HCV and HIV-related education for improving the knowledge of IDUs (injection drug users) and their awareness of infection.

Methods: The study was a randomized cluster controlled trial that compared a usual care group to a usual care plus HCV/HIV-REP (HCV/HIV-Reduction Education Program) group with a 24-week follow-up.

Hepatitis C infection, related services, and barriers to HCV treatment among drug users in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinics in Shanghai, China.

Background: The purpose of this study was to document the prevalence of hepatitis C among MMT patients, hepatitis C virus (HCV) knowledge of patients and MMT staff members, and the barriers preventing them from receiving or delivering HCV-related services in MMT clinics of China.

Methods: Data were collected from 240 MMT patients and 58 staff members in Shanghai MMT clinics. Structured questionnaires (HCV Knowledge Scale and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) and several self-developed questionnaires were used to assess (1) patient and staff HCV knowledge, (2) attitudes toward HCV-related services in MMT clinics, and (3) what type of HCV-related services the staff members have provided in their routine work.

Chondromalacia patellae treated by warming needle and rehabilitation training.

Objective: To observe the effect of warming needle combined with rehabilitation training on chondromalacia patellae in a randomized controlled trial.

Methods: The 92 cases were randomly divided into a treatment group treated by warming needle plus rehabilitation training (47 cases) and a control group treated by medication plus rehabilitation training (45 cases), and the therapeutic effect was compared after 20 sessions.

Results: The pain was relieved more obviously in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.

[Detection of malingering post-traumatic stress disorder].

Assessment of post-traumatic stress disorder is a frequently encountered problem in forensic practices. Detection of malingering has become a focus in these assessments. While it is a difficult task due to kinds of traumatic events, complex clinical symptoms, subjective medical information, and presence of diverse psychotic disorders.

[Study on increasing anti-fungi activity of marine microbes by mixed culture].

The effect of mixed culture on the anti-fungi activity of marine microbes metabolites was evaluated. Based on optimization of monoculture, orthogonal design was used to approach the optimal region of the medium composition of mixed fermentation. The mixed culture showing anti-fungi activity of marine microbes was enriched obviously, compared with monoculture and fermentation mixture.