[Expert consensus on clinical application of Wangbi Tablets in treating rheumatoid arthritis and knee osteoarthritis].

Wangbi Tablets are widely used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, knee osteoarthritis and other diseases at pre-sent. Long-term clinical application and research have shown that this drug has a good effect in reducing the pain of related diseases and improving symptoms. Due to the lack of guidance in the instructions and currently no relevant norms to guide the clinical application of Wangbi Tablets, in order to further improve clinicians' understanding of the drug and fully tap the clinical advantages of the drug, the Professional Committee of Orthopedics and Traumatology Drug Research of China Association of Chinese Medicine organized experts in the fields of rheumatism, orthopedics, pharmacy and methodology in Chinese and western medicine to develop expert consensus on Chinese patent medicines in accordance with the relevant requirements of the consensus methodology.

Piceatannol inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of bladder cancer cells through regulation of the PTEN/AKT signal pathway.

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of piceatannol (PIC) on the proliferation and apoptosis of bladder cancer cell line EJ, and the underlying mechanism.   Bladder cancer cell line EJ was incubated with different concentrations of PIC, and CCK-8 method was used to determine the effect of the treatment on cell proliferation. The effect of PIC on cell cycle, apoptosis and the expressions of related signal pathway proteins were determined using Western blotting.

[Effect of Bushen Qiangdu Recipe on Histomorphology and Wnt Pathway of DBA/1 Mice].

Objective To observe the effect of Bushen Qiangdu Recipe (BQR) on the entheses ossification histomorphology of articular ligament of DBA/1 mice with spontaneous ankylosing spondylitis (AS) , and to study its mechanism for prevention and treatment of AS. Methods Thirty 12-week old male DBA/1 mice were randomly divided into the model group, the positive drug group, low, medium, high dose BQR groups, 6 in each group. Another 6 C57BLE mice of the same age were recruited as a blank control group.

[Efficacy and Safety Evaluation of Bushen Shuji Granule in Treating Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients: a Clinical Study].

Objective: To evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of Bushen Shuji Granule (BSG) in treating ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients.

Methods: A prospective randomized controlled clinical trial was carried out in 62 active stage AS patients with Shen deficiency Du-channel cold syndrome (SDDCS), who were randomly assigned to the BSG group (treated with BSG) and the control group (treated with Celecoxib Capsule). Twelve weeks consisted of one therapeutic course.

[Manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis patients of cold syndrome and heat syndrome using wrist ultrasound].

Objective: To explore distinctive manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients of cold syndrome and heat syndrome using wrist joints ultrasound.

Method: s Totally 65 RA patients were syndrome typed as cold syndrome (29 cases, cold-damp blockage syndrome) and heat syndrome (36 cases, damp-heat obstruction syndrome). Grey-scale synovitis, power doppler (PD) signals, tenosynovitis, and bone erosion were observed using wrist ultrasound.

[Optimization of formulas of Quban gel by uniform design].

Objective: To optimize formulas of Quban gel.

Method: The U6 (6(2) x 3) uniform design was adopted to optimize gel formulas, with rheological parameters, such as viscosity and yield value in room temperature, viscosity and yield value in average temperature of skin, thixlotropy.

Result: The optimum proportion of matrix was made of 1.

Traditional Chinese medicine versus western medicine as used in China in the management of rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized, single-blind, 24-week study.

This study is designed to compare the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with western medicine (WM) in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This is a 24-week, randomized, multicenter, single-blind study comparing TCM with WM (as used in China) carried out between June 2002 and December 2004 in nine research centers in China, involving 489 patients. Patients were randomized to receive TCM (n = 247), MTX and SSZ (n = 242).

[Treatment of ankylosing spondylitis by modified bushen zhuanggu recipe: a clinical observation].

Objective: To observe the clinical effect and safety of modified Bushen Zhuanggu Recipe (BZR) in treating ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods: Recruited were 96 AS outpatients of Shen deficiency induced cold-dampness syndrome (SDCDS) or Shen deficiency dampness-heat syndrome (SDDHS) at clinics of China-Japan Friendship Hospital from May 2010 to May 2011. They were randomly assigned to the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment group and the Western medicine (WM) treatment group in the ratio of 1:1.

[The re-evaluation of 140 patients diagnosed as ankylosing spondylitis and nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis].

Objective: To re-evaluate the diagnoses of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) and analyze the incidence and reason of misdiagnosis.

Methods: Patients who were previously diagnosed as AS and nr-axSpA before referrals to Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) were re-evaluated by three rheumatologists of PUMCH according to the modified New York criteria for AS and Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) axial SpA classification criteria for nr-axSpA.

Results: Totally 87 prior AS patients and 53 prior nr-axSpA patients were enrolled in this study.

[Treating rheumatoid arthritis patients of Shen deficiency and cold invading syndrome by bushen quhan zhiwang decoction combined methotrexate: an evaluation of clinical efficacy and safety].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of bushen quhan zhiwang decoction (BQZD) combined methotrexate (MTX) in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: A prospective, randomized controlled study was carried out. RA patients of Shen deficiency and cold invading syndrome in the treatment group (120 cases) were treated with BQZD and MTX (10 mg/week), while those in the control group (120 cases) were treated with MTX (10 mg/week) alone.

Long-term outcomes of device closure of very large secundum atrial septal defects: a comparison of transcatheter vs intraoperative approaches.

Background: Transcatheter device closure (TCDC) and intraoperative device closure (IODC) have emerged as minimally invasive methods in the treatment of secundum atrial septal defects (ASDs), but the long-term safety and efficacy remains uncertain for the large ASDs.

Hypothesis: TCDC may be as safe and efficacious as IODC for closure of large ASDs in terms of long-term clinical outcomes.

Methods: Ninety-two patients who had ASDs with a defect diameter of ≥30 mm were included in this study.

[Effects of Bushen Shuji Granule on IL-6 in the culture fluid sample of fibroblast cells from the synovial liquid of the ankylosing spondylitis patients].

Objective: To explore the effects of Bushen Shuji Granule (BSG) on inhibiting the interleukin 6 (IL-6) level in the synovial fluid sample of fibroblast cells from the ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients.

Methods: Using serum pharmacologic method, the IL-6 level in the culture fluid sample of fibroblast cells was observed by ELISA method with different concentrations of medicated serum containing BSG. The IL-6 level at the mRNA level was detected using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

[Effects of Bushen qiangdu decoction on MMP-9 and TIMP-1 produced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with ankylosing spondylitis].

Objective: In order to investigate the roles of metalloproteinase in inflammatory bone destruction in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and analyze the mechanism of preventing inflammatory bone destruction of Bushen Qiangdu decoction (BSQDD) in AS cases. Comparisons were made on the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) between AS patients and healthy controls. The effect of BSQDD was investigated on the expression and of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 produced by PBMC in AS patients.

[Effect of bushen qiangdu recipe on osteoporosis and bone loss of patients with ankylosing spondylitis].

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of Bushen Qiangdu Recipe (BSQDR) on osteoporosis and bone loss in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods: Patients with AS were randomly assigned to two groups. The 288 patients in the treatment group received BSQDR (consisting of cibotii rhizoma, antler, prepared rehmannia root, epimedium herb, rhizoma drynariae, teasel root, eucommia bark, pangolin scales, etc.

Clinical efficacy and safety of Gubitong Recipe () in treating osteoarthritis of knee joint.

Objective: To observe the therapeutic efficacy and safety of Gubitong Recipe (, GBT) in treating osteoarthritis (OA) of knee joint.

Methods: Ninety patients with knee osteoarthritis were equally assigned, according to a randomizing digital table, to the treatment group and the control group. The treatment group was treated with GBT Decoction one dose every day and the control group with glucosamine sulfate 500 mg thrice a day, respectively, for eight successive weeks.

Firebird and cypher sirolimus-eluting stents and bare metal stents in treatment of very long coronary lesions.

Background: As a kind of sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) made in China, Firebird SES is more effective than bare metal stent (BMS) and not inferior to Cypher SES for short coronary lesions in terms of reduction of restenosis and revascularization. However, Firebird SES does not show any benefits in patients with a very long coronary lesion (VLCL). The present study was undertaken to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Firebird SES for VLCL by comparison of Cypher SES and BMS.

[Predictive role of diagnostic information in treatment efficacy of rheumatoid arthritis based on neural network model analysis].

Objective: To analyze the indications of the therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with neural network model analysis.

Methods: Three hundred and ninety-seven patients were included in the clinical trial from 9 clinical centers. They were randomly divided into Western medicine (WM) treated group, 194 cases; and traditional Chinese herbal medicine (CM) treated group, 203 cases.

[Analysis on symptomatic factors of rheumatoid arthritis and its correlation with therapeutic efficacy].

Objective: To analyze the symptomatic factors of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to explore the correlations between these factors and the efficacy of TCM herbal and western medicinal therapies.

Methods: Four hundred and thirteen patients with confirmed diagnosis as active RA came from 9 clinical centers were randomly divided into the Western medicine (WM) treated group (n=204) and the traditional herbal medicine (CM) treated group (n=209). The scheme of WM therapy included administration of voltaren extended action tablet, methotrexate and sulfasalazine.

[Correlations of clinical symptoms and treatment efficacy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with Chinese herbal drugs or Western medicine].

Objective: To evaluate the correlations between clinical symptoms and treatment efficacy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Four hundred and thirteen patients were included in the clinical trial from 9 clinical centers. They were randomly divided into Western medicine-treated group with 204 cases and Chinese herbal drug-treated group with 209 cases.