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italic>Ardisia crispa (Thunb.) A. DC. is a traditional Miao medicinal herb with significant therapeutic effects in the treatment of sore throat, tonsillitis, edema of nephritis and bruising and rheumatism, etc. Ardisia crispa var. amplifolia and Ardisia crispa var. dielsii are varieties of A. crispa. A. crispa var. amplifolia and A. crispa var. dielsii are controversial in terms of species evolutionary relationships and taxonomic identification. In this study, we sequenced the whole genome sequences of A. crispa var. amplifolia and A. crispa var. dielsii chloroplasts using Illumina platform, assembled, annotated and characterized them, compared the structural features and degree of variation among chloroplast genomes using bioinformatics methods, and also downloaded constructing phylogenetic trees to analyze the phylogenetic relationships of chloroplasts in Primulaceae and Myrsinaceae using whole genome sequence information. The results showed that the complete chloroplast genome sequences of A. crispa var. amplifolia and A. crispa var. dielsii were 156 749 bp and 156 748 bp in length, with 132 genes annotated, including 87 protein-coding genes; the codon preference of A/U was greater than that of G/C; The differences in the coding regions of rps15 and rpoB genes in the comparative genome analysis can be used as loci for molecular identification of the two species; the differences in the coding regions of ycf1, ycf2, rpoC1, ycf3, petD and rpl16 genes in the chloroplast genome compared with those of the same genus can be used as loci for identification of the genus. In the phylogenetic results, A. crispa var. amplifolia and A. crispa var. dielsii were clustered together with 100% support, indicating that they are closely related. In this research, we analyzed the chloroplast genome structure and phylogenetic relationships of A. crispa var. amplifolia and A. crispa var. dielsii, providing an important theoretical basis for their molecular identification, genetic variation, breeding and phylogenetic analysis.
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@#Retinal neovascularization is a pathological feature of many retinal diseases, such as retinopathy of prematurity and diabetic retinopathy, which can lead to severe vision loss or even blindness. Inhibition of retinal neovascularization is a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of these retinal diseases. At present, there are several therapeutic strategies for inhibiting retinal neovascularization, including laser blocking, inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), and transplantation of stem cells. With the deepening of stem cell research, people find that although stem cell therapy has great potential, there are also technical obstacles such as low viability of transplanted cells and congenital heterogeneity. Current studies have found exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs). They have similar functions as MSCs, and their sizes are small and easy to pass through biofilm, which provides a new idea for cell therapy. This paper reviews the recent progress of exosomes on retinal neovascular diseases.
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@#Retinal neovascularization is a pathological feature of many retinal diseases, such as retinopathy of prematurity and diabetic retinopathy, which can lead to severe vision loss or even blindness. Inhibition of retinal neovascularization is a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of these retinal diseases. At present, there are several therapeutic strategies for inhibiting retinal neovascularization, including laser blocking, inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), and transplantation of stem cells. With the deepening of stem cell research, people find that although stem cell therapy has great potential, there are also technical obstacles such as low viability of transplanted cells and congenital heterogeneity. Current studies have found exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs). They have similar functions as MSCs, and their sizes are small and easy to pass through biofilm, which provides a new idea for cell therapy. This paper reviews the recent progress of exosomes on retinal neovascular diseases.
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PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for erectile dysfunction (ED). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched six major English and Chinese databases included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) testing acupuncture alone or in combination for ED. Dichotomous data were presented as risk ratio (RR) and continuous data were presented as mean difference (MD) both with 95% confidence interval (CI). The Revman (v.5.3) was used for data analyses. Quality of evidence across studies was assessed by the online GRADEpro tool. RESULTS: We identified 22 RCTs, fourteen of them involving psychogenic ED. Most of the included RCTs had high or unclear risk of bias. There was no difference between electro-acupuncture and sham acupuncture with electrical stimulation on the rate of satisfaction and self-assessment (RR, 1.50; 95% CI, 0.71–3.16; 1 trial). Acupuncture combined with tadalafil appeared to have better effect on increasing cure rate (RR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.00–1.71; 2 trials), and International Index of Erectile Function-5 scores (MD, 5.38; 95% CI, 4.46–6.29; 2 trials). When acupuncture plus herbal medicine compared with herbal medicine alone, the combination therapy showed significant better improvement in erectile function (RR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.31–2.15; 7 trials). Only two trials reported facial red and dizziness cases, and needle sticking and pruritus cases in acupuncture group. CONCLUSIONS: Low quality evidence shows beneficial effect of acupuncture as adjunctive treatment for people mainly with psychogenic ED. Safety of acupuncture was insufficiently reported. The findings should be confirmed in large, rigorously designed and well-reported trials.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Acupuncture , Asian People , Bias , Dizziness , Electric Stimulation , Erectile Dysfunction , Herbal Medicine , Needles , Odds Ratio , Pruritus , Self-Assessment , Statistics as Topic , TadalafilABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Antibiotic loaded bone cement has been well studied in clinical prevention and treatment of postoperative infection after artificial joint replacement. However, little is reported on antituberculotic-loaded bone cement. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the drug release properties of polymethyl methacrylate bone cement carrying antituberculosis drugs in a simulated body fluid (phosphate buffer solution, PBS). METHODS:The bone cement SimpLex P and antituberculosis drugs, including pyrazinamide, isoniazid, rifapentine, prothionamide, capreomycin, rifampicin, moxifloxacin, and amikacin, were mixed at 40 g:1.5 g and 40 g: 2.5 g ratios to prepare 16 groups of experimental specimens (n=5 per group). In addition, 40 g of bone cement powder was mixed with the liquid monomer to prepare a group of non-loaded bone cement specimens (control group,n=5). Either experimental or control specimens were soaked in PBS simulated body fluid, and then the extractions were taken at different time points to measure concentrations of antituberculosis drugs by high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The effective sustained-releasing time in the PBS simulated body fluid was 45 and 60 days for 1.5 g and 2.5 g groups of pyrazinamide, was 60 and 45 days for 1.5 g and 2.5 g groups of isoniazid, was 60 and 45 days for 1.5 g and 2.5 g groups of rifapentine, was 150 and 150 days for 1.5 g and 2.5 g groups of protionamide, was 150 and 150 days for 1.5 g and 2.5 g groups of capreomycin, was 45 and 60 days for 1.5 g and 2.5g groups of rifampicin, was 90 and 90 days for 1.5 g and 2.5 g groups of moxifloxacin, and was 60 and 90 days for 1.5 g and 2.5 g groups of amikacin, respectively. All the drug carriers had good drug release characteristics. Especially the 1.5 g and 2.5 g groups of protionamide, 1.5 g and 2.5 g groups of capreomycin, 1.5 g and 2.5 g groups of moxifloxacin and 2.5 g group of amikacin showed a longer period of drug release in accordance with the clinical need. However, our preliminary findings showed that the mechanical strength of the composite bone cement was considerably reduced by isoniazid, rifampicin, rifapentine, or protionamide, while the SimpLex P bone cement carrying pyrazinamide, amikacin, moxifloxacin, or capreomycin showed no changes in the mechanical strength. Therefore, pyrazinamide, amikacin, moxifloxacin, and capreomycin are suitable for the preparation of bone cements carrying antituberculosis drugs.
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To investigate the pharmacokinetics of irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT-11) in rats and the tissue distribution of CPT-11 in mice after injection of irinotecan hydrochloride nanoparticles (CPT-11 NPs) via tail veins, separately, a LC-MS/MS method was established to determine the concentration of CPT-11 in whole blood of rats and in different tissues of mice. The pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of CPT-11 were compared after the intravenous injection of CPT-11 NPs and CPT-11 solution. Compared with CPT-11 solution, the elimination half-life of CPT-11 was prolonged from 2.28 h to 3.95 h after the intravenous injection of CPT-11 NPs, and its AUC was 1.47 times than that of CPT-11 solution. After the injection of CPT-11 NPs in mice, the concentrations of CPT-11 loaded in CPT-11 NPs were significantly higher in the whole blood, colon and lungs than those in CPT-11 solution, but lower in the spleen, liver, kidney and heart, but the least in brain. CPT-11 NPs could improve CPT-11 's AUC, and help CPT-11 to reach long circulation activity.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Male , Mice , Rats , Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic , Blood , Pharmacokinetics , Area Under Curve , Camptothecin , Blood , Pharmacokinetics , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Injections, Intravenous , Nanoparticles , Random Allocation , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization , Tissue DistributionABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To measure and assess the levels of occupational exposure to power frequency electromagnetic fields in workers of power grid.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PMM8053 electromagnetic fields measuring system with EHP-50 probe was used to measure the levels of electromagnetic fields at working place. Personal dosimeters (EMDEX LITE) were utilized to measure the individual exposure levels of power frequency magnetic field. The results were evaluated with the limitation criteria of GBZ2.2 and ICNIRP.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the 500 kV ultra high voltage substation, the intensity at 90% measure points of power electric field was more than 5 kV/m. The magnetic field intensity in the areas nearby reactors and capacitors was often higher than 100 µT, even several hundreds µT. The mean daily exposure levels of workers in power grid were between 0.04 and 5.0 µT, and the exposure levels of 70% workers were higher than 0.4 µT.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In the areas of ultra high voltage and nearby the reactors and capacitors are the key control points for occupational health in power grid. There is acute health risk of workers exposed to high accumulative exposure levels.</p>
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Humans , Electricity , Electromagnetic Fields , Occupational Exposure , WorkplaceABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the regional left ventricular systolic function of children with Kawasaki disease before and after treatment by vector myocardial strain and strain rate imaging (VSI) technology.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The regional left ventricular systolic function was assessed using VSI technology in 32 children with Kawasaki disease before treatment and one month after treatment and in 30 age-matched normal children.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Nine segments of the left ventricular in the Kawasaki disease group before treatment had decreased longitudinal peak systolic strain rate (LSRs) compared with the normal control group. After treatment, the LSRs in 9 segments in the Kawasaki disease group increased, but 6 segments had decreased LSRs compared with the normal control group. The radial peak systolic strain rate (RSRs) of 8 segments in the Kawasaki disease group before treatment was lower than that in the control group. After treatment, only one segment had decreased RSRs compared with the control normal group and 5 segments had increased RSRs compared with that before treatment. The circumferential peak systolic velocity (CVs) of 6 segments in the Kawasaki disease group before treatment group was lower than that in the control normal group. After treatment, only one segment had decreased CVs in the Kawasaki disease group compared with the control normal group and 3 segments had increased CVs compared with that before treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The regional left ventricular systolic function in children with Kawasaki disease before and after treatment can be accurately assessed using VSI technology, which shows the clinical significance of this technology in assessment of treatment outcome in children with Kawasaki disease.</p>
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Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted , Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome , Stress, Mechanical , Systole , Physiology , Ventricular Function, Left , PhysiologyABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the value of Xstrain technology in the evaluation of cardiac function in children with tonsil adenoidal hypertrophy (TAH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-five children with TAH (TAH group) and 20 normal age-matched children (control group) were enrolled. The left ventricular wall movement in the vertical, radial and circumferential directions and the right ventricular tricuspid annulus movement were detected using Xstrain technology.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The systolic and early diastolic velocities of tricuspid annulus in the TAH group were higher than those in the control group. The systolic and diastolic circumferential velocities of the middle lateral wall and back wall of left ventricular in the TAH group were lower than those in the control group. The systolic and early diastolic vertical velocities of the basement of left ventricular wall in the TAH group were higher than those in the control group. There was no significant difference in the radial velocity between the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Early changes in the cardiac function can be found by Xstrain technology in children with TAH. Xstrain technology can provide a reliable basis for cardiovascular evaluation in children with TAH.</p>
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Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Male , Adenoids , Pathology , Heart , Heart Function Tests , Methods , HypertrophyABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the quality of the infectious diseases reporting via network in Beijing hospitals and to filtrate factors that affect the reporting quality.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We collected 5536 infectious disease cases randomly and investigated 52 medical treatment organizations. Information was collected by field questionnaire survey, interview and gathering routine reporting data for analyzing the quality.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The result showed that the timeliness of the 52 medical treatment organizations was 94.18%, the consistency was 80.84%, the completeness was 88.47%, and the misreport was 13.73%. The reporting quality of the second level hospitals was higher than that of the first level hospitals, township health centers and the third level hospitals. The reporting quality of urban hospitals was higher than that of the suburb hospitals. The reporting quality of outpatient and inpatient departments was higher than that of the laboratory. The laboratory was the primary part of underreporting.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Strengthening guidance, training and paying attention to each weak portion would certainly ameliorate the quality of infectious diseases reporting via network.</p>
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Humans , China , Communicable Disease Control , Communicable Diseases , Epidemiology , Disease Notification , Hospitals , Infection Control , Public Health Informatics , Quality Indicators, Health CareABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of octacostyl alcohol preparation on the motor function, blood free radical metabolism and cardiac endocrine function of rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A rat model of exercise fatigue was used for this study. The rats were made to perform continuous exhaustive exercise, and the total exercise time of the rats till exhaustion was recorded followed by examination of the serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), malonaldehyde (MDA), plasma endothelin (ET), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with rats without interventions for exercise fatigue, the rats receiving octacostyl alcohol preparation had significant prolonged exercise time till exhaustion (P<0.05), with also significantly enhanced serum SOD activity (P<0.05), significantly decreased MDA level and plasma ET (P<0.05) and increased CGRP and ANP levels (P<0.05). Octacostyl alcohol preparation produced more favorable effect on all the indices measured than pyruvic acid-creatine (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The octacostyl alcohol preparation can promote the motor function, increases blood antioxidase activity, suppressed lipid peroxidation in rats engaged in exhaustive exercise. The preparation also produces favorable effect on cardiac endocrine function for heart protection during exercise.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Atrial Natriuretic Factor , Blood , Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide , Blood , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Pharmacology , Endocrine System , Physiology , Endothelins , Blood , Fatigue , Blood , Fatty Alcohols , Pharmacology , Free Radicals , Blood , Metabolism , Heart , Physiology , Malondialdehyde , Blood , Motor Activity , Physical Conditioning, Animal , Physiology , Random Allocation , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Superoxide Dismutase , BloodABSTRACT
Depression, a mental illness marked by feeling of extreme sadness, hopeless and inadequately, has been attached much importance. In this review, we summarized the research development of antidepressants, especially the active constituents, the extracts and the compound Chinese medicine of nature medicine, through consulting the relevant papers; and animal models of depression, have been utilized to screen novel drugs with antidepressant, were compared with clinical efficacy to evaluate the concordance, weak links and clinical values. Although animal models of depression fail to be unequivocally valid, also depression models generally lack both clinical and scientific credibility, they represent the tool to define potential antidepressant activity of drugs by far. Animal modeling remains a potentially important approach towards understanding neurobiological mechanisms in depression.