Some thoughts on the research of mesenchymal stem cell exosomes and wound microenvironment / 中华烧伤杂志

Since researchers have found that the conditioned medium and exosomes of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) had the biological effects equivalent to those of MSCs, MSC exosomes (MSC-Exos), the representative product of MSCs' paracrine effect, have become the research focus of the "cell-free" therapy of MSCs. However, most researchers currently use conventional culture condition to culture MSCs and then isolate exosomes for the treatment of wound or other diseases. Theoretically, the paracrine effect of MSCs is directly associated with the pathological condition of the wound (disease) microenvironment or in vitro culture condition, and their paracrine components and biological effects may be altered with the changes of the wound (disease) microenvironment or in vitro culture condition. Thus, the feasibility of using traditional culture condition to culture MSCs for exosome extraction for the treatment of different diseases without considering the actual situation of the disease to be treated needs further discussion. Therefore, the author suggests that the research of MSC-Exos should consider the microenvironment of the wound (disease) to be treated. as much as possible, otherwise the extracted MSC-Exos may not be "accurate" or may not really achieve the treatment effect of MSCs. In this article, we summarized some thoughts of the author and problems related to the researches about MSC-Exos and wound microenvironment, and hoped to discuss with researchers.

Clinical application effects of two longitudes three transverses method in perforator location of thoracodorsal artery perforator flap and deep wound repair / 中华烧伤杂志

Objective: To explore the clinical application value of two longitudes three transverses method in the location of the perforator of thoracodorsal artery perforator and deep wound repair. Methods: The retrospectively observational study was conducted. From December 2018 to June 2020, 17 patients with deep wounds who were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University met the inclusion criteria and were included in this study, including 7 males and 10 females, aged 12 to 72 years. The wound areas of patients after debridement were 7 cm×3 cm to 11 cm×7 cm. Two longitudinal lines were located through the midpoint of the armpit, the posterior superior iliac spine, and the protruding point of the sacroiliac joint, and three transverse lines were located 5, 10, and 15 cm below the midpoint of the armpit between the two longitudinal lines, i.e. two longitudes three transverses method, resulting in two trapezoidal areas. And then the thoracodorsal artery perforators in two trapezoidal areas were explored by the portable Doppler blood flow detector. On this account, a single or lobulated free thoracodorsal artery perforator flap or flap that carrying partial latissimus dorsi muscle, with an area of 7 cm×4 cm to 12 cm×8 cm was designed and harvested to repair the wound. The donor sites were all closed by suturing directly. The number and location of thoracodorsal artery perforators, and the distance from the position where the first perforator (the perforator closest to the axillary apex) exits the muscle to the lateral border of the latissimus dorsi in preoperative localization and intraoperative exploration, the diameter of thoracodorsal artery perforator measured during operation, and the flap types were recorded. The survivals of flaps and appearances of donor sites were followed up. Results: The number and location of thoracodorsal artery perforators located before operation in each patient were consistent with the results of intraoperative exploration. A total of 42 perforators were found in two trapezoidal areas, with 2 or 3 perforators each patient. The perforators were all located in two trapezoid areas, and a stable perforator (the first perforator) was located and detected in the first trapezoidal area. There were averagely 1.47 perforators in the second trapezoidal area. The position where the first perforator exits the muscle was 2.1-3.1 cm away from the lateral border of the latissimus dorsi. The diameters of thoracodorsal artery perforators were 0.4-0.6 mm. In this group, 12 cases were repaired with single thoracodorsal artery perforator flap, 3 cases with lobulated thoracodorsal artery perforator flap, and 2 cases with thoracodorsal artery perforator flap carrying partial latissimus dorsi muscle. The patients were followed up for 6 to 16 months. All the 17 flaps survived with good elasticity, blood circulation, and soft texture. Only linear scar was left in the donor area. Conclusions: The two longitudes three transverses method is helpful to locate the perforator of thoracodorsal artery perforator flap. The method is simple and reliable. The thoracodorsal artery perforator flap designed and harvested based on this method has good clinical effects in repairing deep wound, with minimal donor site damage.

Research progress of histidine-based tumor-targeting drug delivery systems / 药学学报

As a basic amino acid, histidine has a pKa close to the acidity of the tumor microenvironment, thus the charge and solubility of histidine are able to vary as the pH changes. Under a neutral environment, histidine is not charged and exhibits hydrophobic properties, while it can be protonated and becomes hydrophilic when exposed to mildly acidic pH, such as tumor microenvironment. Therefore, histidine is widely used in the design of drug delivery systems to target the mildly acidic pH of tumor microenvironment. This article reviews the recent progresses of histidine-based tumor-targeting drug delivery systems, and summarizes the principles on promoting internalization and tuning drug release by taking advantage of histidine. Finally, we point out the common issues on histidine application and illustrate its future prospects.

Effects of ulinastatin on intestinal mucosal barrier function in sepsis rats and its effect on wnt signal transduction pathway / 解剖学报

Objective To investigate the intestinal mucosal barrier function protective effect of ulinastatin in sepsis rats and its effect on Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Methods One hundred SD rats were randomly divided into control group, sepsis group, ulinastatin group, XAV939+ulinastatin group and lithium chloride( LiCl) +ulinastatin group. The classical cecal ligation was used to duplicate sepsis model, and the jejunal mucosal injury was evaluated. The levels of inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α were detected by ELISA, and the expressions of β-catenin and cyclin D1 were detected by Real-time PCR and Western blotting. We also observed the effect of the Wnt signal pathway blockage by XAV939 or Wnt signal pathway activator by LiCl on ulinastatin protection of intestinal mucosa and proteins related to the Wnt signal pathway. Results The levels of IL-6, TNF-α and intestinal mucosal injury in the sepsis group were significantly higher than those in the ulinastatin group. The mRNA and protein expression levels of β- catenin and cyclin D1 in the sepsis group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05), After ulinastatin treatment, the expression levels of β-catenin and cyclin D1 mRNA and protein were significantly decreased, and the difference was significant (P<0.05). Compared with the ulinastatin group, combined treatment with XAV939 promoted the protective effect of ulinastatin on the intestinal mucosa of rats, and the protein expression of β-catenin and cyclin D1 was reduced (P<0.05). Combined treatment with LiCl weakened the protective effect of ulinastatin on the intestinal mucosa of rats, and the protein expression of β-catenin and cyclin D1 was increased (P<0.05). Conclusion Ulinastatin may inhibit the Wnt signaling pathway by down-regulating the expression of β-catenin, reduce the expression of inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α, thereby promote repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier function damage.

Research progress on indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) inhibitors / 药学学报

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the degradation of tryptophan to kynurenine. IDO1 is highly expressed in some tumor tissues. IDO1 can deplete tryptophan in tumor microenvironment, inhibit T cell function, and mediate the immune escape of tumor cells. Thus, IDO1 is considered a potential target of tumor immunotherapy. Currently, there are several IDO1 inhibitors in clinical research studies. The mechanism of IDO1-mediated tumor immune escape and the structure of IDO1 inhibitors are summarized in this review.

Effects of Polygonum cuspidatum on AMPK-FOXO3α Signaling Pathway in Rat Model of Uric Acid-Induced Renal Damage / 中国结合医学杂志

BACKGROUND@#To observe the effects of Chinese medicine (CM) Polygonum cuspidatum (PC) on adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), forkhead box O3α (FOXO3α), Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4), NACHT, LRR and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression in a rat model of uric acid-induced renal damage and to determine the molecular mechanism.@*METHODS@#A rat model of uric acid-induced renal damage was established, and rats were randomly divided into a model group, a positive drug group, and high-, medium-, and low-dose PC groups (n=12 per group). A normal group (n=6) was used as the control. Rats in the normal and model groups were administered distilled water (10 mL•kg) by intragastric infusion. Rats in the positive drug group and the high-, medium-, and low-dose PC groups were administered allopurinol (23.33 mg•kg), and 7.46, 3.73, or 1.87 g•kg•d PC by intragastric infusion, respectively for 6 to 8 weeks. After the intervention, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, and immunohistochemistry were used to detect AMPK, FOXO3α, TLR4, NLRP3, and MCP-1 mRNA and protein levels in renal tissue or serum.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the normal group, the mRNA transcription levels of AMPK and FOXO3α in the model group were significantly down-regulated, and protein levels of AMPKα1, pAMPKα1 and FOXO3α were significantly down-regulated at the 6th and 8th weeks (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The mRNA transcription and protein levels of TLR4, NLRP3 and MCP-1 were significantly up-regulated (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Compared with the model group, at the 6th week, the mRNA transcription levels of AMPK in the high- and medium-dose groups, and protein expression levels of AMPKα1, pAMPKα1 and FOXO3α in the high-dose PC group, AMPKα1 and pAMPKα1 in the mediumdose PC group, and pAMPKα1 in the low-dose PC group were significantly up-regulated (P<0.01 or P<0.05); the mRNA transcription and protein levels of TLR4 and NLRP3 in the 3 CM groups, and protein expression levels of MCP-1 in the medium- and low-dose PC groups were down-regulated (P<0.01 or P<0.05). At the 8th week, the mRNA transcription levels of AMPK in the high-dose PC group and FOXO3α in the medium-dose PC group, and protein levels of AMPKα1, pAMPKα1 and FOXO3α in the 3 CM groups were significantly up-regulated (P<0.01 or P<0.05); the mRNA transcription levels of TLR4 in the medium- and low-dose PC groups, NLRP3 in the high- and low-dose PC groups and MCP-1 in the medium- and low-dose PC groups, and protein expression levels of TLR4, NLRP3 and MCP-1 in the 3 CM groups were down-regulated (P<0.01 or P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#PC up-regulated the expression of AMPK and its downstream molecule FOXO3α and inhibited the biological activity of TLR4, NLRP3, and MCP-1, key signal molecules in the immunoinflammatory network pathway, which may be the molecular mechanism of PC to improve hyperuricemia-mediated immunoinflflammatory metabolic renal damage.

A minimally invasive alternative for the treatment of nutcracker syndrome using individualized three-dimensional printed extravascular titanium stents / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#This study was designed to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of patients with nutcracker syndrome (NCS) who were treated with three-dimensional printing (3DP) extravascular titanium stents (EVTSs). The 3DP EVTS was expected to release the hypertension of the left renal vein (LRV) produced by its compression between the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and the aorta without causing any complications.@*METHOD@#The pre-operative kidney model of each patient was printed out to enable surgical planning. After that, the EVTS was designed based on the LRV's primitive physiologic structure using computer-aided design software, and each stent was printed out with a precision setting of 20 μm. Seventeen patients who had been suffering from NCS underwent laparoscopic 3DP EVTS placement. The surgical procedure was designed for the placement of EVTS, taking great care in positioning and fixing the stent. Surgical data, which included patient demographic characteristics as well as pre- and post-operative test results, were collected and analyzed.@*RESULTS@#The mean duration of surgery was 75 ± 9 min, and the mean blood loss was 20 ± 5 mL. Computed tomography examinations revealed that the pre- and post-operative angle between the SMA and the aorta ranged from 18.7° ± 4.3° to 48.0° ± 8.8° (P < 0.05); in patients with left varicocele, the mean diameter of the left spermatic vein ranged from 3.7 ± 0.5 to 1.3 ± 0.2 mm (P < 0.05). Moreover, Doppler ultrasound examinations showed that the peak velocity of blood flow at the hilar area ranged from 12.4 ± 3.3 to 18.5 ± 3.4 cm/s (P < 0.05). No side effects were observed in the 24 to 42 months following surgery.@*CONCLUSION@#The findings after 2 years of follow-up suggest that the 3DP EVTS is a safe and effective minimally invasive alternative for the treatment of NCS.

Correction to: Increasing targeting scope of adenosine base editors in mouse and rat embryos through fusion of TadA deaminase with Cas9 variants

In the original publication the grant number is incorrectly published. The correct grant number should be read as "17140901600". The corrected contents are provided in this correction article. This work was partially supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 81670470 and 81600149), a grant from the Shanghai Municipal Commission for Science and Technology (17140901600, 18411953500 and 15JC1400201) and a grant from National Key Research and Development Program (2016YFC0905100).

Effect of Mangiferin on Morphology of Relevant Vessels and MCP-1/CCR-2 Pathway in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the morphological changes of carotid artery, thoracic aorta and superior mesenteric artery in spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR), in order to further study the effect of Mangiferin on the expressions of inflammatory factors and monocyte chemoattract protein-1 (MCP-1)/c-chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR-2) pathway in SHR. Method:Forty spontaneously hypertensive rats were randomly divided into model group, benazepril group (10 mg·kg-1·d-1) and low, medium and high-dose mangiferin groups (25, 50, 100 mg·kg-1·d-1). Eight male WKY rats of the same age were selected as normal control group. Systolic blood pressure was observed every two weeks after eight weeks of administration. Morphology of carotid artery, thoracic aorta and superior mesenteric artery was observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Immunohistochemical assay (IHC) and Western blot were used to detect MCP-1 and CCR-2 protein expressions in thoracic aorta. MCP-1 and CCR-2 mRNA expression levels in thoracic aorta were detected by Real-time quantitative fluorescence PCR (Real-time PCR). Result:Compared with the normal group, the inflammatory cells in the model group increased significantly, the systolic blood pressure was significantly higher than that in the WKY group (PPPPConclusion:There are inflammation damages in carotid artery, thoracic aorta and superior mesenteric artery of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Mangiferin has an anti-inflammatory effect by possibly inhibiting the expressions of MCP-1/CCR-2 pathway in SHR vessels.

Effect of Modified Guipitang Combined with Xingnao Kaiqiao Acupuncture in Treatment of Heart and Spleen Insufficiency Syndrome of Non-dementia Vascular Cognitive Impairment / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To explore the curative effect and partial mechanism of modified Guipitang combined with Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture in the treatment of non-dementia vascular cognitive impairment (VCIND). Method: Totally 122 patients with VCIND admitted to the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) from May 2017 to October 2018 were randomly divided into modified decoction group (39 cases), acupuncture group (42 cases) and combination group (41 cases). All of the three groups were orally given routine anticoagulants and lipid-lowering drugs. The decoction group was orally given modified Guipitang 150 mL/times, 2 times/day, in addition to the routine treatment, the acupuncture group was treated with Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture method in addition to the routine treatment, involving Shuigou, Neiguan (bilateral), Sanyinjiao (bilateral), Sishencong, Xuanzhong (bilateral) and Taixi (bilateral) acupoints, 2 times/day, for six days a week, the combined group was treated with Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture in addition to modified Guipitang. All of the three groups were treated for 8 weeks. The Montreal cognitive assessment scale (MoCA scale, Beijing version) and activity of daily life (ADL) scale, TCM symptoms and clinical efficacy were scored before treatment, 4 weeks after treatment and 8 weeks after treatment in three groups. Serum levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and cone-like protein-1 (VILIP-1) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at different time points. Result: Compared with decoction group and acupuncture group, MoCA score, ADL score and TCM syndrome score of the combined group were decreased, the total effective rate was increased significantly after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, the serum CGRP content was increased, and the VILIP-1 content was decreased. Conclusion: Modified Guipitang combined with Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture has a definite curative effect on VCIND with heart and spleen insufficiency syndrome. Its mechanism may be related to the expansion of blood vessels, the alleviation of blood supply of brain and the reduction of neuron injury.

A minimally invasive alternative for the treatment of nutcracker syndrome using individualized three-dimensional printed extravascular titanium stents / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Background@#This study was designed to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of patients with nutcracker syndrome (NCS) who were treated with three-dimensional printing (3DP) extravascular titanium stents (EVTSs). The 3DP EVTS was expected to release the hypertension of the left renal vein (LRV) produced by its compression between the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and the aorta without causing any complications.@*Method@#The pre-operative kidney model of each patient was printed out to enable surgical planning. After that, the EVTS was designed based on the LRV’s primitive physiologic structure using computer-aided design software, and each stent was printed out with a precision setting of 20 μm. Seventeen patients who had been suffering from NCS underwent laparoscopic 3DP EVTS placement. The surgical procedure was designed for the placement of EVTS, taking great care in positioning and fixing the stent. Surgical data, which included patient demographic characteristics as well as pre- and post-operative test results, were collected and analyzed.@*Results@#The mean duration of surgery was 75 ± 9 min, and the mean blood loss was 20 ± 5 mL. Computed tomography examinations revealed that the pre- and post-operative angle between the SMA and the aorta ranged from 18.7° ± 4.3° to 48.0° ± 8.8° (P < 0.05); in patients with left varicocele, the mean diameter of the left spermatic vein ranged from 3.7 ± 0.5 to 1.3 ± 0.2 mm (P < 0.05). Moreover, Doppler ultrasound examinations showed that the peak velocity of blood flow at the hilar area ranged from 12.4 ± 3.3 to 18.5 ± 3.4 cm/s (P < 0.05). No side effects were observed in the 24 to 42 months following surgery.@*Conclusion@#The findings after 2 years of follow-up suggest that the 3DP EVTS is a safe and effective minimally invasive alternative for the treatment of NCS.

An Investigation on the Molecular Characteristics and Intracellular Growth Ability among Environmental and Clinical Isolates of Legionella pneumophila in Sichuan Province, China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the molecular characteristics and intracellular growth ability of Legionella pneumophila (L. pneumophila) strains from 1989 to 2016 in Sichuan Province, China.@*METHODS@#Seventy-nine isolates of L. pneumophila were collected from environmental and clinical sources, including cooling towers, hot springs, bath water, fountains, and patients, and identified with 16S rRNA gene analysis and serum agglutination assay. The isolates were then typed by Sequence-Based Typing (SBT), and Genotyping of forty-two LP1 strains were analyzed by means of multiple-locus VNTR analysis with 8 loci (MLVA-8). All strains were further analyzed for two virulence genes: Legionella vir homologue (lvh) and repeats in structural toxin (rtxA). The intracellular growth ability of 33 selected isolates was determined by examining their interaction with J774 cells.@*RESULTS@#All isolates were identified to L. pneumophila including 11 serogroups, among which the main serogroup were LP1, accounting for 54.43%. Thirty-three different sequence types (STs) from five main clonal groups and five singletons were identified, along with 8 different MLVA patterns. Both the lvh and rtxA loci were found in all 79 strains. Thirty isolates showed high intracellular growth ability in J774 cells.@*CONCLUSION@#L. pneumophila is a potential threat to public health, and effective control and prevention strategies are urgently needed.

Research progress of gene therapy in clinical application / 生物工程学报

In the 1960s, scientists first raised the idea of curing genetic diseases using gene therapy. This new conceptual strategy aimed to achieve a much longer therapeutic effect by introducing exogenous genetic materials into the patients. After more than five decades of ups and downs, gene therapy has been brought into a new era by those milestone breakthroughs in the 21st century. Here we reviewed and summarized the history and breakthroughs of gene therapy, including some critical clinical trials, approved drugs, and emerging gene editing techniques. We believe that with their unique advantages over traditional therapies, more gene therapies will become practical approaches to genetic diseases and benefit the entire human race.

Establishment of stem cell curriculum and thinking of teaching practice in graduate education / 医学研究生学报

In order to provide reference for development of the new curriculum for graduate students "The principle,technical and clinical practice of stem cell" and improve the quality of teaching and learning,we summarized some experiences and lessons for this course.This paper introduced some measures and achievements on the teaching reform from several aspects including curriculum design,selection of teaching content,teaching idea and mode,training the teaching groups and so on.Moreover,it especially emphasized that teaching contents should not only pay attention to the basic and clinical application,but also combine the present laws and keep abreast of scientific and technological developments.In the process of teaching,we need to value the quality of teachers and improve teaching standards,meanwhile we should pay attention to the culture of thought and the capacity of innovation,stimulating students' interests in studies,improving autonomous study and practices ability through multiple means and channels.This course teaching got satisfactory results and the acquired practice experiences were worth of being popularized in the further graduate students teaching.

Efficacy of autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells in treatment of high radial nerve injury / 中国组织工程研究

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the treatment of high radial nerve injury. METHODS: From April 2011 to September 2015, 12 cases of radial nerve injury in the middle arm were treated. Preoperatively peripheral blood mononuclear cells were mobilized, and then 15 mL of mononuclear cell suspension was prepared on the operation day. Radial nerves scheduled for anastomosis were surgically explored and subjected to end-end anastomosis using outer membrane suturing under microscope. The anastomotic site of the nerve was enveloped with gelatin sponge soaked with 5 mL of autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cell suspension. The remaining 10mL of cell suspension was used for a multi-point injection into the local muscles, 0.5 mL at each point. Thereafter, the deep fascia and the incision were sutured in sequence. Postoperative antibiotic treatment was used to prevent infection for 48 hours, and upper limb immobilization lasted for 4 weeks. Performance of rehabilitation exercise was guided. During the follow-up, wrist dorsal extension and muscle strength of extensor carpi ulnaris and extensor digitorum communis were detected to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: All the patients were followed up for 15 to 36 months, with an average of 17 months. Efficacy was excellent in 9 cases, good in 2 cases, fair in 1 case and poor in 0 case. The excellent and good rate was 92%. The wrist dorsal extension could achieve the functional needs, and the thumb dorsal extension and finger extension basically met the functional requirements. It is suggested that autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cell transplantation can achieve good outcomes in the treatment of high radial nerve injury.

Effects of Risperidone and Paliperidone on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and N400 in First-Episode Schizophrenia / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>Background</b>Risperidone and paliperidone have been the mainstay treatment for schizophrenia and their potential role in neuroprotection could be associated with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and N400 (an event-related brain potential component). So far, different effects on both BDNF and N400 were reported in relation to various antipsychotic treatments. However, few studies have been conducted on the mechanism of risperidone and paliperidone on BDNF and N400. This study aimed to compare the effects of risperidone and paliperidone on BDNF and the N400 component of the event-related brain potential in patients with first-episode schizophrenia.</p><p><b>Methods</b>Ninety-eight patients with first-episode schizophrenia were randomly divided into the risperidone and paliperidone groups and treated with risperidone and paliperidone, respectively, for 12 weeks. Serum BDNF level, the latency, and amplitude of the N400 event-related potential before and after the treatment and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores were compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>Results</b>A total of 94 patients were included in the final analysis (47 patients in each group). After the treatment, the serum BDNF levels in both groups increased (all P < 0.01), while no significant difference in serum BDNF level was found between the groups before and after the treatment (all P > 0.05). After the treatment, N400 amplitudes were increased (from 4.73 ± 2.86 μv and 4.51 ± 4.63 μv to 5.35 ± 4.18 μv and 5.52 ± 3.08 μv, respectively) under congruent condition in both risperidone and paliperidone groups (all P < 0.01). Under incongruent conditions, the N400 latencies were shortened in the paliperidone group (from 424.13 ± 110.42 ms to 4.7.41 ± 154.59 ms, P < 0.05), and the N400 amplitudes were increased in the risperidone group (from 5.80 ± 3.50 μv to 7.17 ± 5.51 μv, P < 0.01). After treatment, the total PANSS score in both groups decreased significantly (all P < 0.01), but the difference between the groups was not significant (P > 0.05). A negative correlation between the reduction rate of the PANSS score and the increase in serum BDNF level after the treatment was found in the paliperidone group but not in the risperidone group.</p><p><b>Conclusions</b>Both risperidone and paliperidone could increase the serum BDNF levels in patients with first-episode schizophrenia and improve their cognitive function (N400 latency and amplitude), but their antipsychotic mechanisms might differ.</p>

Dynamic Change of Red Cell Distribution Width Levels in Prediction of Hospital Mortality in Chinese Elderly Patients with Septic Shock / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The normal range of red cell distribution width (RDW) level is <15%. Several studies have indicated that a high RDW level was associated with mortality in critically ill patients, and the patients with a high RDW level need increased focus in clinical practice. In view of the difficulty in defining the specific value of high RDW level, the key is to focus on the patient with the level beyond the normal upper limit. This study aimed to determine whether dynamic change of RDW levels, rather than the level itself, is predictive of death in elderly patients with septic shock when RDW level is beyond 15%.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Between September 2013 and September 2015, the elderly septic shock patients with RDW level beyond 15% were enrolled in this study. The RDW levels were measured at enrollment (day 1), and days 4 and 7 after enrollment. Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores were recorded simultaneously.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 45 patients, including 32 males and 13 females, were included in the final analysis. Based on their hospital outcomes, these patients were divided into the survivor group (n = 26) and the nonsurvivor group (n = 19). There were no significant differences in age, gender, body mass index, initial level of RDW, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores, and SOFA scores between survivors and nonsurvivors. At days 4 and 7 measurement, both RDW level (median [interquartile range]: day 4: 15.8 [2.0]% vs. 16.7 [2.0]%, P= 0.011; and day 7: 15.6 [1.8]% vs. 17.7 [2.5]%, P= 0.001) and SOFA scores (day 4: 7.0 [4.0] vs. 16.0 [5.0], P< 0.001, day 7: 5.5 [4.0] vs. 17.0 [5.0], P< 0.001) were significantly lower in survivors than those in nonsurvivors. Dynamic changes of RDW and SOFA scores in survivor group were significantly different from those in nonsurvivor group (all P< 0.05). Continuous increase in RDW level was observed in 10 of the 13 nonsurvivors, but only in 3 of the 26 survivors. The level of RDW7 and dynamic changes significantly correlated with their counterparts of SOFA scores (all P< 0.05), whereas the levels of RDW1 and RDW4 had no significant correlation with their counterparts of SOFA scores (all P> 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Continuous increase in RDW level, rather than the level of RDW itself, was more useful in predicting hospital death in elderly patients with septic shock when the level of RDW was >15%. The dynamic changes of RDW were highly correlated with the SOFA score in the patients.</p>

Investigation on resource and quality assessment of Cibotii Rhizoma / 中国中药杂志

The study is aimed to understand the resource and the current situation of the use of Cibotii Rhizoma and provide the basis for protecting and utilization. The method of literature survey, field survey and quality assessment were applied in the study. The results showed that all the Cibotii Rhizoma came from wild resource and was mainly founded in Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, Guangdong, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, Zhejiang, etc. It contains over 5 000 000 kg in the area which total is about 7 000 hm2. The annual output is over 850 000 kg. At present, there is no cultivated resources. Based on the investigation and market sampling analysis from various regions, the results showed that the quality of the collected crude drugs conformed with the regulations of the Chinese pharmacopoeia. However the qualification rate of decoction pieces of Cibotii Rhizoma in market was only 56.4%. At present, the resource of Cibotii Rhizoma could meet the needs of medinal uses. It is important to protect the wild resource which is less and less because of the environmental factors. It also need to make a standard of processing method to ensure the safety, and solve quality problem of the decoction pieces.

Adenosine sensitivity is associated with ablation success rate and recurrence rate with nonirrigated catheters in patients with ventricular premature contractions/tachycardia from the ventricular outflow tract / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>A high ablation success rate for ventricular arrhythmia (VA) from outflow tract has been achieved, but some of them cannot be eliminated from endocardium. We investigated the association between adenosine sensitivity and ablation success/recurrence rates with a nonirrigated or an irrigated catheter.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>According to adenosine test, all patients were divided into a sensitive group (S group) or an insensitive group (I group). The patients of each group were randomized into a nonirrigated catheter (NA) subgroup or an irrigated catheter (IA) subgroup with a 2:1 ratio.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In S group of 122 patients (84 in NA subgroup), the ablation success rate was similar between two subgroups (94.7% vs. 90.5%, P > 0.05), but in I group of 94 patients (60 in NA subgroup), it was higher in IA subgroup (94.1%) than that in NA subgroup (73.3%, P < 0.05). The success rate using nonirrigated catheter was significantly higher in S group (90.5%) than that in I group (73.3%, P < 0.01), and the recurrence rate was lower in S group than that in I group (1.3%, vs. 13.6%, P < 0.05). On the contrary, the success rate and the recurrence rate using irrigated catheter were similar between S group and I group (94.7%, 94.1%, P > 0.05, vs. 2.8%, 6.3%, P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Adenosine insensitivity is associated with a lower success rate and a higher recurrence rate for VA patients undergoing nonirrigated catheter ablation. Thus, irrigated catheters should be the first choice for VA ablation in adenosine insensitive patients.</p>

Effect of a novel selective S1P1 agonist, Syl948, on mouse skin transplantation / 药学学报

Syl948 is a synthesized selective S1P1 agonist with novel structure. HTRF-IP1 test indicated that Syl948-P, the active form of Syl948 in vitro, has strong activity against S1P1 (EC50: 83 +/- 16 nmol x L(-1)), but its effect on S1P3 was very weak (EC50: 1 026 +/- 90 nmol x L(-1)). In SD rats, oral administration of Syl948 10 mg x kg(-1) significantly decreased the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), with the maximal PBL inhibition rate of 63%, which was as similar as equal dose of fingolimod (FTY720). Oral administration of Syl948 10 mg x kg(-1) had no effect on heart rate of SD rats, which was better than FTY720. Daily oral administration with Syl948 (2 or 4 mg x kg(-1)) significantly prolonged the survival time of the allografts of skin slice on mice. In summary, the above results demonstrated that Syl948 has great selectivity in vitro and good activity in vivo, which indicated its potential use as an anti-rejection drug in skin transplantation.