Phytochemical interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder: A cluster co-occurrence network analysis using CiteSpace / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#This study investigated trends in the study of phytochemical treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).@*METHODS@#The Web of Science database (2007-2022) was searched using the search terms "phytochemicals" and "PTSD," and relevant literature was compiled. Network clustering co-occurrence analysis and qualitative narrative review were conducted.@*RESULTS@#Three hundred and one articles were included in the analysis of published research, which has surged since 2015 with nearly half of all relevant articles coming from North America. The category is dominated by neuroscience and neurology, with two journals, Addictive Behaviors and Drug and Alcohol Dependence, publishing the greatest number of papers on these topics. Most studies focused on psychedelic intervention for PTSD. Three timelines show an "ebb and flow" phenomenon between "substance use/marijuana abuse" and "psychedelic medicine/medicinal cannabis." Other phytochemicals account for a small proportion of the research and focus on topics like neurosteroid turnover, serotonin levels, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression.@*CONCLUSION@#Research on phytochemicals and PTSD is unevenly distributed across countries/regions, disciplines, and journals. Since 2015, the research paradigm shifted to constitute the mainstream of psychedelic research thus far, leading to the exploration of botanical active ingredients and molecular mechanisms. Other studies focus on anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammation. Please cite this article as: Gao B, Qu YC, Cai MY, Zhang YY, Lu HT, Li HX, Tang YX, Shen H. Phytochemical interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder: A cluster co-occurrence network analysis using CiteSpace. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(4):385-396.

Investigation on the early evolution of "heart dominating pericardium meridian of hand- / 中国针灸

The evolution from "vessel dominated by heart" of "heart dominating pericardium meridian of hand-

Relationship and risk factors of osteonecrosis of femoral head after internal fixation of femoral neck fracture with serum bone metabolism and vasoactive factors / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To study the relationship between osteonecrosis of femoral head after internal fixation of femoral neck fracture and serum bone metabolism, vascular active factors, and analyze the risk factors.@*METHODS@#Total 150 patients with femoral neck fracture who underwent reduction and internal fixation from April 2016 to April 2019 were selected, including 83 males and 67 females. According to whether there was necrosis of femoral head after operation, they were divided into necrosis group(32 cases) and non necrosis group (118 cases). Before operation and 1, 3, 5 days after operation, the serum levels of beta-C terminal cross-linked telopeptides of typeⅠ collagen(β-CTX), N-telopeptide of typeⅠ procollagen(PINP), nitric oxide (NO), Endothelin-1 (ET-1) were measured. The clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared. The risk factors of postoperative femoral head necrosis were analyzed by logistic regression model. The value of serum indexes in predicting postoperative femoral head necrosis was analyzed by ROC curve.@*RESULTS@#There was no significant difference in the levels of serum PINP and β-CTX between necrotic group and non necrotic group before operation and 1, 3 and 5 days after operation(@*CONCLUSION@#The content of serum NO and ET-1 on the first day after operation can predict the necrosis of femoral head.

Free rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap for the reconstruction of major and complex defects in the craniofacial regions after ablation of advanced sinonasal carcinomas / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective: To explore the method and plausibility of using free rectus abdominis flap (FRAF) to reconstruct the major and complex defects in the craniofacial regions after ablation of advanced sinonasal carcinoma. Methods: From 2007 to 2018 at No. 980 Hospital of Joint Logistic Supportive Force of People's Liberation Army of China, 13 patients with advanced carcinoma of nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, including 11 males and 2 females, aged from 33 to 67 years, were treated with FRAF to repair the invasion of skull base, face and orbit. Based on adequate and meticulous preoperative evaluations on patients and tumors, complete resection of tumor bulks was performed. According to the sites, characters and extents of the defects, FRAF was introduced in different ways into reconstruction of major and complex defects in the craniofacial regions after resection of advanced sinonasal carcinomas, restoring the structure and contour of the craniofacial region. Results: Complete resection of tumors was achieved in all cases. For repairing the major and complex defects resulted from tumor ablation, FRAF graft was conducted in 13 patients with advanced sinonasal carcinomas. The recipient vessels were facial artery and vein in 9 cases, superficial temporal artery and vein in 4 cases. Vascular bridging with the external jugular vein was carried out in 2 cases who underwent submandibular neck dissections, in which facial artery and vein were used as recipient vessels. Free fibular flap was used along with FRAF in a case undergone bilateral maxillectomy. Pedicled galea capitis and periosteal flap were applied simultaneously in 3 cases with dura defects at the skullbase resulted from tumor resection. All flaps used in 13 cases survived uneventfully without major complications, with successful repair of defects, reconstruction of structures and restoration of contour of craniofacial regions. Conclusion: With adequate evaluation of resectability of tumors as well as nature and extent of defects after tumor removal, FRAF transplantation is an ideal method and strategy of choice for reconstructing the major and complex defects in craniofacial regions resulted from tumor ablation of advanced sinonasal carcinomas.

Dietary and nutritional survey among submarine crew / 第二军医大学学报

Objective To investigate the dietary and nutritional status of submarine crew, and to provide guides for reasonable diet and reference for seting new food standards for military personal. Methods During submarine docking, 100 submarine crew were selected as subjects. A total of 100 questionnaires were sent out and 96 valid questionnaires were collected, with an effective rate of 96.0%. The dietary survey was carried out for 4 consecutive days by weighing method. The daily energy consumption of the crew was measured by 24-hour life observation method, meanwhile the body mass index (BMI) and body fat rate were also measured. The common nutritional deficiency symptoms and suggestions on food supply were evaluated by the questionnaire. Results The survey showed that the food intakes, such as cereals, soybean, vegetables, poultry, milk, fish and shrimp, were insufficient, while the intakes of livestock meat and vegetable oil were above the military standard. Their daily energy intakes were higher than the military standard requirements and could meet the energy consumption; the protein and fat energy supply ratios were too high, while that of carbohydrate was too low. The intakes of sodium, iron, phosphorus and vitamin E were all over the standard, while the intakes of iodine, vitamin A and B vitamins were insufficient. Physical investigation showed that overweight and obesity was 46.8% (36/77), and slightly higher and high body fat rate was 48.1% (37/77). In addition, the incidences of nutritional deficiency symptoms, such as dry eyes, bleeding gums, and mouth and tongue ulcers were 26.0% (25/96), 22.9% (22/96) and 19.8% (19/96), respectively. Fruits, dairy products, beef and mutton were the top three recommended food to be increased for the crew's food supply. Conclusion The submarine crew have an unreasonable dietary structure, inappropriate energy supply of the three major nutrients, and unbalanced nutrient intakes. It is necessary to adjust the dietary structure and improve the diet pattern so as to promote the crew's health..

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.

Reform of Professional Education in Physical Therapy in Perspectives of World Confederation for Physical Therapy International Course Accreditation: Case of Capital Medical University School of Rehabilitation Medicine / 中国康复理论与实践

This study described the significance of professional education in physical therapy in Capital Medical University School of Rehabilitation Medicine under the background of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) International Course Accreditation, analyzed the present problems of core curriculum system as well as the inevitable trends of carrying on the education reform of physical therapy, and the continuous reform program of core curriculum system in physical therapy based on the accreditation of the WCPT were suggested. The final purpose was to improve the quality of physical therapy talents substantially in order to achieve the standard of WCPT accreditation.

Hemodynamic changes in standing-up test of children and adolescents with postural tachycardia syndrome / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the hemodynamic changes in standing-up test of children and adolescents with postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and to compare hemodynamic parameters of POTS patients with decreased cardiac index (CI) and those with not-decreased CI.@*METHODS@#A retrospective study was conducted to show the trends of CI, total peripheral vascular resistance index (TPVRI), heart rate and blood pressure in standing-up test of 26 POTS patients and 12 healthy controls, and to compare them between the two groups. The POTS patients were divided into two groups based on CI decreasing or not in standing-up test, namely decreased CI group (14 cases) and not-decreased CI group (12 cases). The trends of the above mentioned hemodynamic parameters in standing-up test were observed and compared between decreased CI group and not-decreased CI group.@*RESULTS@#In standing-up test for all the POTS patients, CI (F=6.936, P=0.001) and systolic blood pressure (F=6.049, P<0.001) both decreased significantly, and heart rate increased obviously (F=113.926, P<0.001). However, TPVRI (F=2.031, P=0.138) and diastolic blood pressure (F=2.018, P=0.113) had no significant changes. For healthy controls, CI (F=3.646, P=0.016), heart rate (F=43.970, P<0.001), systolic blood pressure (F=4.043, P=0.020) and diastolic blood pressure (F=8.627, P<0.001) all increased significantly in standing-up test. TPVRI (F=1.688, P=0.190) did not change obviously. The changing trends of CI (F=6.221, P=0.001), heart rate (F=6.203, P<0.001) and systolic blood pressure (F=7.946, P<0.001) over time were significantly different between the patients and healthy controls, however, no difference was found in TPVRI and diastolic blood pressure (P > 0.05). Among the POTS patients, CI was significantly different between decreased CI group and not-decreased CI group (F=14.723, P<0.001). Systolic blood pressure of the former decreased obviously (F=8.010, P<0.001), but it did not change obviously in the latter (F=0.612, P=0.639). Furthermore, none of the changes of TPVRI, heart rate and diastolic blood pressure in standing-up test were significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). Age was an independent factor for decreased CI patients (P=0.013, OR=2.233; 95% CI, 1.183 to 4.216).@*CONCLUSION@#POTS patients experience vital hemodynamic changes in standing-up test, part of them suffering from decreased CI, but others from not-decreased CI. Age is an independent factor for patients suffering from decreased CI.

Diversity of fungi on surface of Pheretima / 中国中药杂志

Traditional Chinese medicines( TCMs) are easily contaminated by fungi during planting,harvesting,processing,transportation and storage. The 2015 version of Chinese Pharmacopoeia stipulates the detection of aflatoxin in Dilong. After reviewing the literature,it has been found that there are no domestic and foreign scholars who have studied the surface fungi of Dilong. Pheretima,known as Dilong in China,is a commonly used TCMs in animal. In this experiment,8 batches of Dilong were collected from retail pharmacies in Beijing. The fungi on the surface of Dilong were cultured by traditional plate method and the single strain was obtained by the top purification method. The fungal colony morphology,microstructure characteristics and DNA barcode were used to isolate and identify the fungi. At the same time,based on Illumina Hi Seq 2500 high-throughput sequencing platform,the diversity of fungi on the surface of Dilong was analyzed. The results showed that 287 strains of 9 species of fungi were isolated and identified by plate method. Combined with 3 kinds of identification method,eight of nine fungi could be identified,respectively,Aspergillus niger,Penicillium,Alternaria nees,A. flavus,and Penicillium oxalicum,Humicola sp.,Talaromyces purpurogenus and A. insuetus,1 kind of fungi was not identified yet. Among them,Penicillium and Aspergillus were the dominant genus. The results of high-throughput sequencing belonged to 2 boundaries,6 gates,19 classes,44 orders,98 families,127 genus and 121 species in different classification levels. Wallemia,Aspergillus and Cordyceps were the dominant genus,and the relative abundances are 63. 33%,15. 28%,and 10. 28%,respectively. Through the diversity study on the surface fungi of Dilong in Beijing retail pharmacies,it can provide a reference for its safe storage and clinical use.

Increased Endogenous Sulfur Dioxide Involved in the Pathogenesis of Postural Tachycardia Syndrome in Children: A Case-Control Study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>Background</b>The pathogenesis of postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the changes and significance of sulfur dioxide (SO) in patients with POTS.</p><p><b>Methods</b>The study included 31 children with POTS and 27 healthy children from Peking University First Hospital between December 2013 and October 2015. A detailed medical history, physical examination results, and demographic characteristics were collected. Hemodynamics was recorded and the plasma SOwas determined.</p><p><b>Results</b>The plasma SOwas significantly higher in POTS children compared to healthy children (64.0 ± 20.8 μmol/L vs. 27.2 ± 9.6 μmol/L, respectively, P < 0.05). The symptom scores in POTS were positively correlated with plasma SOlevels (r = 0.398, P < 0.05). In all the study participants, the maximum heart rate (HR) was positively correlated with plasma levels of SO(r = 0.679, P < 0.01). The change in systolic blood pressure from the supine to upright (ΔSBP) in POTS group was smaller than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The ΔSBP was negatively correlated with baseline plasma SOlevels in all participants (r = -0.28, P < 0.05). In the control group, ΔSBP was positively correlated with the plasma levels of SO(r = 0.487, P < 0.01). The change in HR from the supine to upright in POTS was obvious compared to that of the control group. The area under curve was 0.967 (95% confidence interval: 0.928-1.000), and the cutoff value of plasma SOlevel >38.17 μmol/L yielded a sensitivity of 90.3% and a specificity of 92.6% for predicting the diagnosis of POTS.</p><p><b>Conclusions</b>Increased endogenous SOlevels might be involved in the pathogenesis of POTS.</p>

Clinical research of operation in the treatment for potentially resectable cancer of pancreatic body-tail / 天津医药

@#Objective Todiscusstheclinicaleffectandtechnicalmethodofthesurgicaltreatmentforpotentially resectablecancerofpancreaticbody-tail.Methods Elevenpatientswithpotentiallyresectablecancerofpancreaticbodytailoradjacentorganmetastasis,whounderwentwideexcisionandpostoperativechemotherapyinourdepartmentwere retrospectivelyanalyzed. Results Inelevenpatients,10patientswithadjacentorganmetastasiswereperformedinvolved organsresection,3patientsweregivenresectionoftheceliacaxis(CA)andcommonhepaticartery(CHA)and2patients weregiventotalgastrectomyandjejunalinterpositionpouchreconstruction.Onepatienthadprolongedhospitalstaydueto incisioninfection,butnoseriouscomplicationsoccurredinotherpatients.Exceptfor2patients,theotherpatientsunderwent postoperativechemotherapyofgemcitabine.Allofthepatientsachievedreliefthroughoperation.Themediansurvivaltime was 28 (14, 36) months. One and 3-year survival rates were 90.9% and 36.3%. Conclusion The resection rate of potentiallyresectablecarcinomaofpancreaticbodyandtailoperationislower,andpatientshavelongbeenplaguedby abdominal pain. The treatment of extensive resection operation and recessive resection and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapycanimprovethequalityoflifeandprolongthesurvivalrateofpatients.

Research progress of mechanisms for vasovagal syncope in children / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Vasovagal syncope(VVS),with its relatively high morbidity,is one of the most common types of au-tonomic-mediated reflex syncope in children,which can seriously affect pediatric patients in their life and study.A se-ries of research have shown that the mechanism for VVS is closely related to autonomic nervous imbalance,neurohor-monal factor,and cerebral blood flow abnormality,and has a certain degree of genetic tendency.Now the progress in the mechanisms for VVS at home and abroad is reviewed,in order to provide certain help for further research.

Plasma Neuropeptide Y Levels in Vasovagal Syncope in Children / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Vasovagal syncope (VVS) is the most common cause of syncope in children. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure (BP), as well as myocardial contractility. This study aimed to explore the role of plasma NPY in VVS in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-six children who were diagnosed with VVS (VVS group) using head-up tilt test (HUT) and 31 healthy children who were selected as controls (control group) were enrolled. Plasma NPY concentrations were detected. The independent t-test was used to compare the data of the VVS group with those of the control group. The changes in plasma NPY levels in the VVS group during the HUT, as well as hemodynamic parameters, such as heart rate (HR), BP, total peripheral vascular resistance (TPVR), and cardiac output (CO), were evaluated using the paired t-test. Furthermore, the correlations between plasma NPY levels and hemodynamic parameters were analyzed using bivariate correlation analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The BP, HR, and plasma NPY (0.34 ± 0.12 pg/ml vs. 0.46 ± 0.13 pg/ml) levels in the supine position were statistically low in the VVS group compared to levels in the control group (all P < 0.05). Plasma NPY levels were positively correlated with the HR (Pearson, R = 0.395, P < 0.001) and diastolic BP (Pearson, R = 0.311, P = 0.003) when patients were in the supine position. When patients in the VVS group were in the supine position, elevated TPVR (4.6 ± 3.7 mmHg·min-1·L-1 vs. 2.5 ± 1.0 mmHg·min-1·L-1, respectively, P < 0.001; 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) and reduced CO (1.0 ± 0.7 L/min vs. 2.4 ± 1.3 L/min, respectively, P < 0.001) were observed in the positive-response period compared with baseline values. The plasma NPY levels were positively correlated with TPVR (Spearman, R = 0.294, P = 0.028) but negatively correlated with CO in the positive-response period during HUT (Spearman, R = -0.318, P = 0.017).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Plasma NPY may contribute to the pathogenesis of VVS by increasing the TPVR and decreasing the CO during orthostatic regulation.</p>

A fluorescence polarization immunoassay for the detection of aflatoxins in herbal teas / 药学学报

A rapid fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) has been developed for the determi-nation of aflatoxins in samples of naturally-contaminated herbal teas. The tracers were synthesized by chemical method and determined by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and mass spectroscopy (MS). Fluorescence polarization was evaluated by the detection of polarized light. The results showed that the limit of detection (LOD) of FPIA for aflatoxins was 20 ng·mL-1, the IC50 was 371.80 ng·mL-1, and the linear range of the developed FPIA was 92.76-252.32 ng·mL-1. Compared with conventional HPLC methods, the FPIA developed in this study has the advantages of short analysis time and low cost. This method may be suitable for high- throughput screening of aflatoxins in herbal teas.

Baicalin attenuates high fat diet-induced insulin resistance and ectopic fat storage in skeletal muscle, through modulating the protein kinase B/Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta pathway / 中国天然药物

Insulin resistance is the pathophysiological basis of many diseases. Overcoming early insulin resistance highly significant in prevention diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver, and atherosclerosis. The present study aimed at evaluating the therapeutic effects of baicalin on insulin resistance and skeletal muscle ectopic fat storage in high fat diet-induced mice, and exploring the potential molecular mechanisms. Insulin resistance in mice was induced with a high fat diet for 16 weeks. Animals were then treated with three different doses of baicalin (100, 200, and 400 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1)) for 14 weeks. Fasting blood glucose, fasting serum insulin, glucose tolerance test (GTT), insulin tolerance test (ITT), and skeletal muscle lipid deposition were measured. Additionally, the AMP-activated protein kinase/acetyl-CoA carboxylase and protein kinase B/Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta pathways in skeletal muscle were further evaluated. Baicalin significantly reduced the levels of fasting blood glucose and fasting serum insulin and attenuated high fat diet induced glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance. Moreover, insulin resistance was significantly reversed. Pathological analysis revealed baicalin dose-dependently decreased the degree of the ectopic fat storage in skeletal muscle. The properties of baicalin were mediated, at least in part, by inhibition of the AMPK/ACC pathway, a key regulator of de novo lipogenesis and activation of the Akt/GSK-3β pathway, a key regulator of Glycogen synthesis. These data suggest that baicalin, at dose up to 400 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1), is safe and able to attenuate insulin resistance and skeletal muscle ectopic fat storage, through modulating the skeletal muscle AMPK/ACC pathway and Akt/GSK-3β pathway.

Decreased expression of calcium-sensing receptor involved in the progression of diabetic cardiomyopathy / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the dynamic expression of calcium-sensing receptor(CaSR) in myocardium of diabetic rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups including control, diabetic-4 week and diabetic-8 week groups(n = 10). The type 2 diabetes mellitus models were established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 30 mg/kg) after high-fat and high-sugar diet for one month. The cardiac morphology was observed by electron microscope. Western blot analyzed the expression of CaSR, phospholamban (PLN), a calcium handling regulator, and Ca+-ATPase(SERCA) in cardiac tissues.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with control group, the expressions of CaSR and SERCA were decreased, while the expression of PLN was significantly increased in a time-dependent manner in diabetic groups. Meanwhile diabetic rats displayed abnormal cardiac structure.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These results indicate that the CaSR expression of myocardium is reduced in the progression of DCM, and its potential mechanism may be related to the imnaired intracellular calcium homeostasis.</p>

Construction and immunological responses of recombinant adenovirus containing Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 in mice / 病毒学报

This study aimed to construct recombinant adenovirus expressing Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) against nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The C-terminal region fragment of the ebna1 gene of Epstein-Barr virus was amplified from the standard strain B95-8 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The gene fragment was inserted into the pDC316 shuttle plasmid using the EcoRI and BgIII restriction enzyme sites. The pDC316-ebna1 shuttle plasmid and pBHG helper plasmid were cotransfected into HEK293 cells after sequencing. The soluble protein was extracted from HEK293 cells, which caused apparent cytopathic effects. The transcription and expression of the ebna1 gene were confirmed using flow cytometry and Western blotting. rAd-ebna1 titers were measured by the TCID50. rAd-ebna1 was injected into BALB/c mice at a dose of 2 x 10(8) VP per mouse, EBNA1 epitope-specific responses were measured at 1st, 2nd, 4th and 8th weeks post-immunization. The target fragment of ebna1 (939 bp) was obtained by PCR, and was in consensus with the sequence from the standard strain B95-8. Cytopathic effects were observed after the pDC316-ebna1 shuttle plasmid and pBHG helper plasmid were cotransfected into HEK293 cells. rAd-ebna1 was successfully recombined in HEK293 cells. EBNA1 protein was detected in HEK293 cells, rAd-ebna1 titers reached 10(8) TCID50/mL. Specific responses to CD4+ epitopes of EBNA1 were detected in the immunized mice. In conclusion, rAd-ebna1 was successfully constructed and induced specific responses to CD4+ epitopes of EBNA1 in immunized mice.

Preliminary analysis on the treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by pandrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical features of pandrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (PDR-Ab) in the Chinese PLA General Hospital and compare the efficacies of different antibiotic treatments in aged patients with ventilator-associative pneumonia (VAP) caused by PDR-Ab.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Data were collected from all isolated PDR-Ab strains in our hospital from April 2009 to April 2010. The clinical features, treatment, and outcomes were retrospectively reviewed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>PDR-Ab was found to be the dominant pathogen in 42 of 126 aged VAP patients. Cefoperazone/sulbactam plus minocycline showed good efficacy in 20 patients with PDR-Ab VAP, showing a clinical cure rate of 65% (13/20) and a bacterial eradication rate of 40% (8/20). Another 22 patients were treated with other antimicrobial drugs, achieving a clinical cure rate of 22.7% (5/22) and a bacterial eradication rate of 13.6% (3/22). The factors influencing bacterial clearance were prolonged length of hospital stay and mechanical ventilation prior to positive culture (all P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cefoperazone/sulbactam plus minocycline can be an effective treatment for VAP caused by PDR-Ab.</p>

Treatment of diabetic foot by clearing heat, detoxification, activating blood, and dredging collaterals method / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the mechanism of treating diabetic foot by clearing heat, detoxification, activating blood, and dredging collaterals method.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty diabetic foot patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group and the control group, 30 cases in each group. On the basis of the same routine treatment, patients in the treatment group were treated by Qingjie Tongluo Recipe (QTR) plus external washing of Chinese herbs plus external dressing by herbs with removing necrosis and promoting granulation actions, while those in the control group were treated with routine aseptic external dressing. Three months was taken as one therapeutic course. The wound area and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were detected before and after treatment. The content of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the peripheral vascular and nerve functions were also measured. The therapeutic effects were also observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, in the treatment group,15 patients were cured, 12 markedly effective, 2 effective, 1 ineffective, the cure rate was 50.0% and the total effective rate was 96.7%, while in the control group, 9 cases were cured, 6 markedly effective, 8 effective, 7 ineffective, the cure rate was 30.0% and the total effective rate was 76.7%. The total effective rate was better in the treatment group than in the control group (P <0. 01). The contents of bFGF and VEGF were significantly higher in the two groups after treatment (P <0.01). Besides, better results were obtained in the treatment group (P < 0.01). The blood flow speed of the dorsalis pedis artery, the inner diameter of the dorsalis pedis artery, and the common peroneal nerve conduction velocity were somewhat improved (P <0.05, P <0.01). Besides, better results were obtained in the treatment group (P <0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>QTR combined external washing plus external dressing by herbs with removing necrosis and promoting granulation actions could promote the healing of diabetic foot induced ulcers, improve the vascular and nerve functions. Its efficacy was superior to that of the control group.</p>

The protective effect of DR2 activation on hypoxia/reperfusion injury in the neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and related mechanism / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of dopamine receptor (DR2) activation on hypoxia/reperfusion injury (HRI) in the neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, and to explore its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The hypoxia/reperfusion (H/R) injury model was established in primarily cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, and randomly assigned: control, H/R, bromocriptine (Bro) and haloperidol (Hal) groups. The cell apoptosis was detected using inverted microscope, transmission electron microscope and flow cytometry (FCM). The lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in cell medium were analyzed. The expression of mRNA and protein of caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, Fas, Fas-L, Cyt C and Bcl-2 were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, apoptosis rate, LDH activity, MDA content and the expression of pro-apoptotic factors and anti-apoptotic factors were increased, but SOD activity was decreased in H/R group. Compared with the H/R group, all index above-mentioned were down-regulated or reversed in Bro-group, and had no obvious differences in Hal-group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The neonatal rat cardiomyocytes injury and apoptosis caused by hypoxia/reperfusion can be inhibited with DR2 activation, which mechanism is related to scavenging oxygen radical.</p>