Nucleic acid aptamer-based traditional Chinese medicine application:therapy,targeting and diagnosis / 中国中药杂志

Nucleic acid aptamers, broad-spectrum target-specific single-stranded oligonucleotides, serve as molecules in targeted therapy, targeted delivery and disease diagnosis for the treatment of tumor or microbial infection and clinical detection. Due to the existence of components in the use of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), the target is difficult to concentrate and the specificity of treatment is poor. The effective components of TCM are toxic components, so a highly sensitive detection method is urgently needed to reduce the toxicity problem at the same time. The combined application of TCM and modern medical treatment strategy are difficult and cannot improve the therapeutic effect. Aptamers, advantageous in biosensors, aptamer-nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery, and aptamer-siRNA chimeras, are expected to connect Chinese medicinals with nanotechnology, diagnostic technology and combined therapies. We summarized the preparation, screening, and modification techniques of nucleic acid aptamers and the biomedical applications and advantages in therapy, targeting, and diagnosis, aiming at providing a reference for the in-depth research and development in TCM.

Design and Implementation of A Portable Mobile Controlled Transcranial Direct Current Stimulator / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective:To design and implement a low-power and portable transcranial direct current stimulator controlled by mobile phones. Methods:The constant current stimulation circuit was realized by a field effect transistor, which could output stable and adjustable low-intensity direct current, and the impedance detection circuit and the over-current protection circuit increased the effectiveness and safety of the stimulator. The control and real-time detection of the stimulation circuit was realized through a microcontroller, and the parameters' settings of the stimulator and the display and preservation of the actual stimulus information were realized through the Android software on the smartphone. Results:The output current strength and accuracy, maximum load, as well as the timing, device connection, stimulus information collection and display all achieved the expected goals. Conclusion:The design realized the mobile control of the stimulator, with portability, low cost and low power consumption, providing a new solution for wider applications.

Effect of PhysioTouch on Upper Limb Lymphedema after Breast Cancer Surgery / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective:To investigate the effect of PhysioTouch on upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer surgery. Methods:From September, 2017 to August, 2018, 42 patients with upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer operation were randomly divided into control group (n = 21) and experimental group (n = 21). Both groups accepted complex decongestion therapy, while the experimental group accepted PhysioTouch in addition, for four weeks. They were assessed with difference of upper limb volume, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire of Breast Cancer (EORTC QLQ‐BR23) before and after treatment. Results:All the indexes significantly improved in both groups after treatment (t > 17.925, P < 0.001), and improved more in the experimental group than in the control group (t > 2.407, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Combination of PhysioTouch can further relieve upper limb edema after breast cancer operation, and improve their shoulder-hand function and quality of life.

Subchronic Oral Toxicity Evaluation of Lanthanum: A 90-day, Repeated Dose Study in Rats / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The present study was undertaken to evaluate the subchronic toxicity of lanthanum and to determine the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL), which is a critical factor in the establishment of an acceptable dietary intake (ADI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In accordance with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) testing guidelines, lanthanum nitrate was administered once daily by gavage to Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at dose levels of 0, 1.5, 6.0, 24.0, and 144.0 mg/kg body weight (BW) per day for 90 days, followed by a recovery period of 4 weeks in the 144.0 mg/kg BW per day and normal control groups. Outcome parameters were mortality, clinical symptoms, body and organ weights, serum chemistry, and food consumption, as well as ophthalmic, urinary, hematologic, and histopathologic indicators. The benchmark dose (BMD) approach was applied to estimate a point of departure for the hazard risk assessment of lanthanum.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Significant decreases were found in the 144.0 mg/kg BW group in the growth index, including body weight, organ weights, and food consumption. This study suggests that the NOAEL of lanthanum nitrate is 24.0 mg/kg BW per day. Importantly, the 95% lower confidence value of the benchmark dose (BMDL) was estimated as 9.4 mg/kg BW per day in females and 19.3 mg/kg BW per day in males.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The present subchronic oral exposure toxicity study may provide scientific data for the risk assessment of lanthanum and other rare earth elements (REEs).</p>

Use of Chinese herbal medicine therapies in comprehensive hospitals in central China: A parallel survey in cancer patients and clinicians / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), as the largest application category of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is widely accepted among cancer patients in China. Herbal slice (HS) and Chinese patent drug (CPD) are commonly used CHM in China. This study aimed to investigate the utilization of CHM among clinicians and cancer patients in central China. Five hundred and twenty-five patients and 165 clinicians in 35 comprehensive hospitals in central China were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire that was designed to evaluate the use of CHM. The results showed that 90.74% clinicians and 72.24% cancer patients used CHM during cancer treatment. The educational backgrounds of the clinicians and the age, education level, annual income, and cancer stage of the cancer patients were related to use of CHM. More than 90% clinicians and cancer patients had used CPD. Comparatively, the percentage of HS use was 10% lower than that of CPD use among clinicians and cancer patients. More clinicians preferred to use CHM after surgery than cancer patients did (20.41% vs. 5.37%). Enhancing physical fitness and improving performance status were regarded as the most potential effect of CHM on cancer treatment (85.71% among clinicians and 94.07% among cancer patients), in comparison with directly killing tumor cells (24.49% among clinicians and 31.36% among patients). As for refusal reasons, imprecise efficacy was the unanimous (100%) reason for clinicians' rejection of CHM, and 95.58% patients objected to using CHM also for this reason. Furthermore, the side effects of CHM were more concerned by clinicians than by patients (33.33% vs. 15.81%). In conclusion, our survey revealed that CHM was popularly accepted by clinicians and cancer patients in central China. The reasons of use and rejection of CHM were different between clinicians and cancer patients.

Neurobehavioral Assessment of Rats Exposed to Yttrium Nitrate during Development / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The aim of this study was to assess the effects of yttrium nitrate on neurobehavioral development in Sprague-Dawley rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Dams were orally exposed to 0, 5, 15, or 45 mg/kg daily of yttrium nitrate from gestation day (GD) 6 to postnatal day (PND) 21. Body weight and food consumption were monitored weekly. Neurobehavior was assessed by developmental landmarks and reflexes, motor activity, hot plate, Rota-rod and cognitive tests. Additionally, brain weights were measured on PND 21 and 70.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No significant difference was noted among all groups for maternal body weight and food consumption. All yttrium-exposed offspring showed an increase in body weight on PND 21; however, no significant difference in body weight for exposed pups versus controls was observed 2 weeks or more after the yttrium solution was discontinued. The groups given 5 mg/kg daily decreased significantly in the duration of female forelime grip strength and ambulation on PND 13. There was no significant difference between yttrium-exposed offspring and controls with respect to other behavioral ontogeny parameters and postnatal behavioral test results.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Exposure of rats to yttrium nitrate in concentrations up to 45 mg/kg daily had no adverse effects on their neurobehavioral development.</p>

Study on dermal absorption of Imidacloprid in vitro / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The dermal absorption of Imidacloprid was studied to understand the effects of concentrations and skin reservoir on pesticide risk assessment in in vitro absorption studies.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>By using Franz diffusion cell and the transdermal barrier of viable Wistar rat abdomen skin or frozen ones, the imidacloprid content in the receptor fluid and skin was determined by LC/MS/MS method, and the absorption effects were compared between two concentrations of Imidacloprid solutions and two types of skin, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All percentages reported are % of applied dose. In vitro studies using viable skin, the Imidacloprid content in the receptor fluid of high and low concentration was 6.8%, 6.6% respectively; and 10.7%, 1.3% in skin, thus total absorption was 17.5% and 7.9%. And in vitro studies using both viable and frozen skin under the same concentration circumstances, the Imidacloprid content in the receptor fluid of viable and frozen skin was 6.6% and 0.7% respectively, in skin was 1.3% and 10.7%, and total absorption was 7.9% and 11.4%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Comparison of these in vitro results showed that either concentrations or skin reservoir had an effect on the dermal absorption. During 6h exposure, the high concentration in viable skin had the maximum dermal absorption value, which was the worst-case exposure estimate, also the best single estimate for pesticide risk assessment.</p>