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In order to meet the requirements of compatibility and timeliness of repair materials for asphalt pavement, a rapid-hardening magnesia-based cement emulsified asphalt mortar (MCAM) is prepared. The results show that high temperature or high-temperature water bath treatment reduces the stability of MCAM, and MCAM prepared from emulsified asphalt with high softening point and low water content has better high-temperature stability. Increasing the asphalt-cement (A/C) ratio decreases the dynamic stability and stiffness modulus of the MCAM-repaired asphalt mixture, but increases its failure strain, which is determined by the material properties of the asphalt and cement phases. The splitting tensile strength of MCAM-asphalt mixture specimens are all above 0.8 MPa, and the strength ratio before and after freezing and thawing is above 90%, which is significantly higher than that of traditional asphalt-based, epoxy-based and polyurethane-based pavement repair materials. When MCAM is used to repair dried surface of asphalt mixtures, its pull-out bonded strength is significantly higher than that after wet and aged treatments. In addition, the microstructure of MCAM also shows that the asphalt phase and the cement phase are mixed together, and the microstructure becomes loose as the A/C ratio increases.

Objectives. In this systematic review, the effects of acupuncture combined with moxibustion on reproductive and metabolic outcomes in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were evaluated. Methods. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing acupuncture combined with moxibustion + basic treatment (experimental group) versus basic treatment alone (control group) for treating PCOS were identified from English and Chinese databases up to November 3, 2021. Outcomes related to pregnancy, ovulation, miscarriage, sex hormones, and metabolic disorders were of interest. In the meta-analysis, risk ratios (RRs) and mean differences (MDs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used as effect measures. Results. Twenty-five RCTs (n = 1991) were included. The pooled results showed that the experimental group had significant increases in the pregnancy rate (RR 1.81, 95% CI 1.58 to 2.08) and ovulation rate (RR 1.31, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.40) and decreases in the miscarriage rate (RR 0.45, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.73), and ovarian volume (MD −0.75 cm3, 95% CI −1.30 to −0.20). In the experimental group, improvements in the luteinizing hormone (LH) level, the LH-to-follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio, total testosterone level, fasting insulin level, and body mass index, but not in FSH, oestradiol, or dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels, were significantly greater. All reported adverse events were mild. Based on the limitations of risk of bias, inconsistency, imprecision, and/or publication bias, the level of evidence was judged to be moderate for the pregnancy rate, ovulation rate, miscarriage rate, LH level, and LH/FSH ratio and very low for the other outcomes. Conclusion. Among patients with PCOS, using acupuncture combined with moxibustion as a complementary therapy to basic treatments can improve pregnancy, ovulation, and miscarriage rates, the levels some sex hormones, and metabolic indicators, with good safety. Additionally, this combination therapy may have no effect on the FSH, oestradiol, or dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate level.

Background: The aim of this study was to observe the effect and safety of Heyan Kuntai Capsule (HYKT) on glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: Hundred patients with PCOS were randomly divided into HYKT group (n = 50) and placebo groups (n = 50) in which the individuals were treated with HYKT and its placebo continuously for 6 months. Meanwhile, all participants received health education (such as exercise and diet). The primary outcomes were serum sex hormone levels, a series of blood lipid, fasting and postprandial 2 hours blood glucose. Body mass index (BMI), waist–hip ratio (WHR), insulin, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and insulin-sensitive index (ISI) were also observed. In addition, adverse events were recorded to evaluate the drug safety. Results: After treatment, the BMI and WHR of all the patients were decreased. The fasting and postprandial 2 hours blood glucose levels were significantly declined when treated with HYKT, which were not observed in the placebo group. Similarly, serum sex hormones including luteinizing hormone (LH), LH/follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and testosterone were lowered after treated with HYKT instead of the placebo. Besides, blood lipids outcomes such as total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, as well as insulin and HOMA-IR were decreased with significance in HYKT group when compared with those in the placebo group, whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and ISI increased obviously. Conclusion: HYKT showed the effect on ameliorating the glucose and lipid metabolism disorder and improving insulin resistance and increase insulin sensitivity of PCOS patients, which is similar to insulin sensitizing agent.

Background Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disease that is characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. The main symptoms include dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. These symptoms impair the lives of most of the women suffering from the disease. Surgical resection of endometriotic lesions is an effective means of treating dysmenorrhea, but the risk of recurrence is high. Western medicine has limited use for treating it due to side effects and ineffectiveness. The purpose of this study is to verify the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture. Methods/design This trial will be carried out in four parts. A total of 106 eligible patients with pelvic pain related to endometriosis will be randomly assigned into two groups, in a 1:1 ratio, as the treatment group or the control group. The participants assigned to the treatment group will be treated with acupuncture treatment at Guanyuan (CV4), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Taichong (LR3), Zhaohai (KI6) and Qichong (ST30) while the control group will receive acupuncture at non-acupoints. The trial will include three menstrual cycles of treatment and three menstrual cycles of follow-up. The primary outcome is pelvic pain that will be assessed by means of a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS). At each stage, we will evaluate the safety of the acupuncture treatment. Discussion The study will compare the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture with comfort needles on pelvic pain related to endometriosis in the hope of providing significant evidence for using acupuncture on pelvic pain related to endometriosis. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03125304. Registered on 30 April 2017. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13063-018-2684-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

In comparison to other accelerating curing methods in cement-based materials, the direct electric curing (DEC) has unique advantages of easily operating and high-quality controlling. Through employing the fixed voltage and frequency of alternating current, the influence of DEC time ranging from 0 to 24 h on Portland cement was investigated. The optimal DEC time was proposed by measuring the flexural strength, compressive strength , pore structure, capillary water absorption. The influencing mechanism of DEC on the properties of cement was studied by using TGA and XRD analysis. This study also compared the potential CO 2 emission of four methods for preparing high early-strength cement-based materials. The results indicate that short time, i.e., within 2 h, of DEC cannot improve both early-term and middle-term strength. The optimal DEC time is about 6 h, through which the increment in 1-day and 28-day strength, improvement of pore structure and capillary water absorption can be obtained. Superfluous DEC decreases the middle-term strength and makes the pore structure much coarser because delayed ettringite formation (DEF) was observed in 24 h of DEC cured specimens. Judged only by strength requirement, DEC is indeed much cleaner than steam curing, but it has no advantage over the methods of Portland cement with composite early-strength agent or Portland cement with sulphoaluminate cement. While considering CO 2 emission, cost, durability and strength requirement together, DEC is the most effective and environmentally friendly method.

Background: Endometriosis (EMs) affects about 10% of women of childbearing age. It is defined as functional endometrial tissue appearing in other parts of the uterine cavity, manifested by varying degrees of pelvic pain and pelvic mass, etc. Therefore, to improve the therapeutic effect of endometriosis, we must constantly explore new ways to treat the disease. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the combined use of laparoscopy and traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of patients with EMs. Methods: A systematic literature search will be conducted at China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang databases, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane library. The search period limit is from the time the date of database establishment to June 21, 2021. To ensure the comprehensiveness of the search, relevant references and conference literature are also included. The risk of bias in the final included studies will be evaluated based on the guidelines of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. The RevMan software will be employed to perform data synthesis and statistical analysis. Results: The effectiveness and safety of laparoscopic surgery combined with traditional Chinese medicine decoction in the treatment of patients with EMs will be systematically evaluated. Conclusion: The results of this study will provide strong evidence for judging whether laparoscopy combined with traditional Chinese medicine decoction is an effective strategy for the treatment of patients with EMs.

Background The progress of modern society and changes in lifestyle have not only increased the proportion of sub-healthy people, but also caused many people to suffer from sleep disorders and mental anxiety. Long-term lack of high-quality sleep will not only cause psychological problems such as anxiety and fatigue, but also cause physical abnormalities, such as abnormal hormone secretion, weakened immunity, neuroendocrine disorders, and high blood pressure. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of aromatherapy in improving sleep quality in people with sleep disorders. Methods Computer search CNKI, SinoMed, Wanfang, PubMed, Web of science, and EMbase collect randomized controlled trials on aromatherapy to improve sleep quality of people with sleep disorders. The search time limit is to build the database until April 5, 2021. RevMan5.3 software is used for meta-analysis. Results This systematic review will provide an assessment of the current state of sleep disorders, aiming to assess the efficacy of aromatherapy for patients with sleep disorders. Conclusion This systematic review will provide a credible evidence-based for the clinical treatment of sleep disorders with aromatherapy.

Endometriosis is a common gynecological condition in childbearing age women and its therapy in modern medicine achieves usually temporary cure. Ping-Chong-Jiang-Ni formula (PCJNF), a Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), was shown to be clinically effective on endometriosis. Meanwhile, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway was involved in the therapeutic process of CHM on endometriosis. Here, we explored the effect of PCJNF on the ectopic endometrial stromal cells (EESCs) from endometriosis and test whether JNK signaling was involved. After being treated with PCJNF-containing serum obtained from Sprague Dawley rat, cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were evaluated in EESCs, and the total and phosphorylated JNK, ERK, and p38 proteins were detected. Our results showed that PCJNF could suppress cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and induce apoptosis in EESCs. The suppressed proliferation and increased apoptosis were dependent on JNK activation. Additionally, PCJNF caused cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and this effect was mediated by JNK signaling, while the decreased cell migration and invasion treated by PCJNF were independent of JNK signaling. In summary, our results provided the first evidence that PCJNF could suppress cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while increasing apoptosis in EESCs, and the suppressed proliferation and enhanced apoptosis were mediated by JNK signaling.