Phagocytosis of microglia in neurodegenerative diseases / 生理学报

With the acceleration of the aging society, neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), have become a rapidly growing global health crisis. Recent studies have indicated that microglia-neuron interactions are critical for maintaining homeostasis of the central nervous system. Genome-Wide Association Studies and brain imaging studies have suggested that microglia are activated in early stage of neurodegenerative diseases. Microglia are specialized phagocytes in the brain. The discovery of a new phagocytic pathway, trogocytosis, suggests that there is a close interaction between microglia and surviving neurons. In this review, we summarize the important roles of microglia in neurodegenerative diseases, and further analyze the functions and molecular mechanisms of microglia phagocytosis and trogocytosis.

Recognition of producing areas of Angelicae Sinensis Radix based on structure-texture image decomposition / 中国中药杂志

The pharmacological effects of Angelicae Sinensis Radix from different producing areas are uneven. Accurate identification of its producing areas by computer vision and machine learning(CVML) is conducive to evaluating the quality of Angelicae Sinensis Radix. This paper collected the high-definition images of Angelicae Sinensis Radix from different producing areas using a digital camera to construct an image database, followed by the extraction of texture features based on the grayscale relationship of adjacent pixels in the image. Then a support vector machine(SVM)-based prediction model for predicting the producing areas of Angelicae Sinensis Radix was built. The experimental results showed that the prediction accuracy reached up to 98.49% under the conditions of the model training set occupying 80%, the test set occupying 20%, and the sampling radius(r) of adjacent pixels being 2. When the training set was set to 10%, the prediction accuracy was still over 93%. Among the three producing areas of Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Huzhu county, Qinghai province exhibited the highest error rate, while Heqing county, Yunnan province the lowest error rate. Angelicae Sinensis Radix from Minxian county, Gansu province and Huzhu county, Qinghai province were both wrongly attributed to Heqing county, Yunnan province, while most of those from Huzhu county, Qinghai province were misjudged as the samples produced in Minxian county, Gansu province. The method designed in this paper enabled the rapid and non-destructive prediction of the producing areas of Angelicae Sinensis Radix, boasting high accuracy and strong stability. There were definite morphological differences between Angelicae Sinensis Radix samples from Minxian county, Gansu province and those from Huzhu county, Qinghai province. The wrongly predicted samples from Minxian county, Gansu province and Huzhu city, Qinghai province shared similar morphological characteristics with those from Heqing county, Yunnan province. Most wrongly predicted samples from Heqing county, Yunnan province were similar to the ones from Minxian county, Gansu province in morphological characteristics.

Clinicopathological features and survival analysis of gastric cancer patients with neuroendocrine differentiation after radical resection / 中华胃肠外科杂志

Objective: To compare the clinicopathological characteristics and the prognosis of gastric adenocarcinoma patients with and without neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) after radical gastrectomy plus D2 lymph node dissection. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) patients who underwent radical resection of gastric cancer plus D2 lymph node dissection and were confirmed as gastric adenocarcinoma by postoperative pathology and received immunohistochemical examination of neuroendocrine markers Syn and/or CgA; (2) patients aged 20 to 75 years with normal organ function; (3) patients who did not receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy before operation; (4) patients with postoperative pathological stage I to III according to the 8th edition of tumor staging system of American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC); and (5) patients who completed adjuvant chemotherapy according to the postoperative pathological stage. Those who had other malignant tumors in the past 5 years and who could not be followed up according to the required rules were excluded. According to the above criteria, the clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer patients who underwent radical resection plus D2 lymph node dissection in Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University from January 2010 to June 2017 were collected and compared. All patients were followed up till June 2020. The disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) between the patients with and without NED were compared, and the effect of NED on the prognosis was corrected by Cox proportional hazards model. The propensity score matching method was used for sensitivity analysis. Results: A total of 539 patients were enrolled in this study, including 35 with NED and 504 without NED. Compared with the patients without NED, the patients with NED were older [(65.0±7.5) years vs. (54.5±11.3) years, t=-7.681, P<0.001], had higher proportion of undergoing proximal gastrectomy [22.9% (8/35) vs. 7.6% (36/504), χ(2)=10.335, P=0.006], higher proportion of intestinal-type based on Lauren classification [77.1% (27/35) vs. 42.5% (214/504), χ(2)=14.553, P<0.001], and higher proportion of pathologic stage III [65.7% (23/35) vs. 27.6% (139/504), χ(2)=25.653, P<0.001]. The 3-year DFS of patients with NED and those without NED was 48.9% (95% CI: 33.8%-70.8%) and 37.4% (95% CI: 32.9%-42.5%) respectively, and no significant difference was found (P=0.44). The 3-year OS was 56.1% (95% CI: 39.9%-79.1%) and 64.3% (95% CI: 59.3%-69.7%) respectively, and no significant difference was found as well (P=0.32). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that NED was not an independent risk factor for DFS and OS (all P>0.05). Sensitivity analysis showed that there was no significant difference in DFS and OS between the two groups after propensity score matching. Conclusion: Compared with patients without NED, patients with NED were older at onset, had a higher proportion of proximal gastrectomy, intestinal-type, and later diagnostic stage, but the survival prognosis had no significant difference with that of patients without NED.

Influence of doctor-patient relationship, occupational stress and personality traits on job burnout of health care workers for AIDS prevention and treatment / 中国职业医学

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mediating role of doctor-patient relationship between occupational stress and job burnout of medical staffs involved in the prevention and treatment of patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS) and the regulating role of personality traits. METHODS: A total of 346 medical staffs who are involved in AIDS prevention and treatment from 29 antiviral treatment sites in Yunnan Province were selected as the study subjects using convenience sampling method. The Questionnaire of Doctor-Patient Interaction, Subscale of Feeling Stress, Questionnaire of Chinese Job Burnout, and China′s Big Five Personality Questionnaire(short version) were used to investigate these subjects. The mediating-regulating model was tested with the Process program. RESULTS: The total scores of doctor-patient relationship, occupational stress, personality traits and job burnout were(43.6±9.2),(153.1±29.5),(156.2±17.9) and(67.7±16.8), respectively. The job burnout was associated with doctor-patient relationship and occupational stress(correlation coefficients were-0.31 and 0.24, respectively, all P<0.05). Occupational stress had a direct effect on job burnout(P<0.01). The doctor-patient relationship had a mediating effect between occupational stress and job burnout(P<0.05), which accounted for 13.1% of the total effect. It was regulated by open personality traits(P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The doctor-patient relationship has a mediating effect between the occupational stress and job burnout of the medical staffs engaged in AIDS prevention and treatment, and the open personality traits plays a moderating role.

Preparation of glabridin ethosomes and their bioactivity evaluation / 中草药

Objective: To compare the effects of softeners including ethanol, propylene glycol and mixed alcohol (ethanol-propylene glycol 2:8) on the preparation of glabridin ethosomes (GLA-ES), and provide the selection basis of the softeners for studying the ethosomes of insoluble drugs. Methods: GLA-ES were prepared by injection-ultrasonic binding method with ethanol, propylene glycol and mixed alcohol (ethanol-propylene glycol, 2:8) as softeners. The morphology, size, Zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, stability, and in vitro drug release of GLA-ES were investigated. Tyrosinase activity on melanoma B16-OVA cells were detected to evaluate the inhibition of GLA-ES on the synthesis of melanin, the experiment of potassium ferricyanide reducing power was performed to evaluate the antioxidant effect of GLA-ES, and human epidermal HaCaT cells and rat skin were used for preliminary safety evaluation. Results: GLA-ES were yellow translucent liquid, containing vesicular phospholipid bilayer structure, the average particle size of GLA-Et-ES, GLA-PG-ES and GLA-MA-ES were (34.24 ± 0.29), (62.31 ± 1.66) and (41.20 ± 1.13) nm, respectively; The Zeta potential were (-41.0 ± 1.8), (-32.9 ± 0.2) and (-35.8 ± 1.6) mV, the entrapment efficiency were (91.47 ± 2.39)%, (87.33 ± 1.31)% and (91.39 ± 3.59)%, respectively, which had good stability of storage at 4 ℃ for 20 d, in vitro drug release behaviors of GLA-ES fitted Higuchi equation, implying their sustained release properties. Compared with the glabridin suspension, the inhibitory effects of GLA-Et-ES, GLA-PG-ES and GLA-MA-ES on tyrosinase activity in melanoma B16-OVA cells were increased by 38.07%, 19.58% and 40.42%, respectively. The results of potassium ferricyanide reducing power also showed that GLA-ES had a stronger in vitro antioxidant effect than the glabridin suspension; GLA-ES were nearly nontoxic on normal cells and had no irritation to rat skin. Conclusion: GLA-ES can be obtained by hree kinds of softeners, which can inhibit the synthesis of melanin and enhance the antioxidant effect with good safety. The present research will provide the basis for further developing skin-whitening cosmetics or pharmaceutical external preparation. For the insoluble drugs such as glabridin, when mixed alcohol (ethanol-propylene glycol) was selected as the softener to prepare ethosome, it exhibited better encapsulation efficiency and stability than that of ethanol or propylene glycol as the softener alone.

Effect of warm acupuncture at Yifeng (TE 17) on facial paralysis with periauricular pain during pregnancy / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the curative effect between the warm acupuncture at Yifeng (TE 17) combined with conventional acupuncture and TDP plus conventional acupuncture on facial paralysis with periauricular pain during pregnancy.@*METHODS@#A total of 68 patients were randomized into an observation group (36 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a control group (32 cases, 1 case dropped off). First week, TDP light was used on the affected side in the control group, and warm acupuncture at Yinfeng (TE 17) on the affected side was used in the observation group, both once a day. From the second week, both groups were given acupuncture at Chengjiang (CV 24) and the affected side of Cuanzhu (BL 2), Yangbai (GB 14), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Yingxiang (LI 20), Dicang (ST 4), etc. and electroacupuncture (continuous wave, 2 Hz in frequency) was connected at Cuanzhu (BL 2) and Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Jiache (ST 6) and Dicang (ST 4). Both treatments were given every other day for 4 weeks totally. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score of the periauricular pain degree before treatment and after 1 week of treatment, the House-Brackmann (H-B) facial nerve function grading scale and facial disability index (FDI) score before treatment and after 2, 4 weeks of treatment were compared between the two groups.@*RESULTS@#After 1 week of treatment, the VAS scores of both groups decreased (@*CONCLUSION@#Warm acupuncture at Yinfeng (TE 17) combined with conventional acupuncture can effectively improve the periauricular pain and facial nerve function in patients of facial paralysis with periauricular pain during pregnancy, and the curative effect is better than TDP plus conventional acupuncture.

Clinical observation on time-effect of electroacupuncture for idiopathic facial paralysis / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of different acupuncture frequency and duration of needle retention on idiopathic facial paralysis, and optimize the acupuncture treatment plan.@*METHODS@#A total of 140 patients were randomized into a group A (37 cases, 3 cases dropped off), a group B (35 cases, 3 cases dropped off), a group C (34 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a group D (34 cases, 1 case dropped off). Under the same basic treatment, acupuncture intervention time (day 8 of morbidity), acupoint selection [Cuanzhu (BL 2), Yangbai (GB 14), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Yingxiang (LI 20), Jiache (ST 6), Dicang (ST 4) on the affected side, Chengjiang (CV 24) and Hegu (LI 4) on the unaffected side] and electroacupuncture intervention, different acupuncture interval time and duration of needle retention were applied. In the group A, the treatment was given 20 min once a day, while the group B 30 min once a day, the group C 20 min once every 2 days, the group D 30 min once every 2 days. Totally 20-day treatment were required. The House-Brackmann (H-B) facial nerve function grading system was used to evaluate the improvement of clinical symptom, the situation and latency periods of the R1 wave in blink reflex and facial nerve motor conduction before and after treatment were observed in the 4 groups.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the cured rates in the 4 groups were 44.1% (15/34), 46.9% (15/32), 57.6% (19/33) and 51.5% (17/33), there was no significant difference among 4 groups (>0.05). The situation and latency periods of the R1 wave in blink reflex and latency periods and amplitude of facial nerve motor conduction after treatment were improved in the 4 groups (0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture 20 min once a day, 30 min once a day, 20 min once every 2 days and 30 min once every 2 days have significant effect on the recovery of idiopathic facial paralysis, and the effect is comparable.

Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation-based quantitative proteomic analysis of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis and H2AX in etoposide-induced renal cell carcinoma apoptosis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) is a vital factor in the anti-apoptosis mechanism of tumors and is highly expressed in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, the mechanism through which XIAP regulates DNA damage repair is unknown. This study investigated the regulatory mechanism of XIAP in etoposide-induced apoptosis in two Caki-1 cell lines with high or low XIAP expression.@*METHODS@#The two cell lines were established using RNA interference technology. The differentially expressed proteins in the two cell lines were globally analyzed through an isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation-based quantitative proteomics approach. Proteomic analysis revealed 255, 375, 362, and 5 differentially expressed proteins after 0, 0.5, 3, and 12 h of drug stimulation, respectively, between the two cell lines. The identified differentially expressed proteins were involved in numerous biological processes. In addition, the expression of histone proteins (H1.4, H2AX, H3.1, H3.2, and H3.3) was drastically altered, and the effects of XIAP silencing were accompanied by the marked downregulation of H2AX. Protein-protein interactions were assessed and confirmed through immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses.@*RESULTS@#The results suggested that XIAP may act as a vital cell signal regulator that regulates the expression of DNA repair-related proteins, such as H2AX, and influences the DNA repair process.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Given these functions, XIAP may be the decisive factor in determining the sensitivity of RCC cell apoptosis induction in response to chemotherapeutic agents.

Clinical observation of acupuncture combined with sertraline hydrochloride tablets on tumor-related depression / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical effects of acupuncture combined with sertraline hydrochloride and simple sertraline hydrochloride on tumor-related depression.@*METHODS@#Sixty patients with tumor-related depression who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to an observation group and a control group, 30 patients in each group. The routine treatment in department of oncology were given in both groups, oral sertraline hydrochloride (25 mg daily for the first 5 days, then 50 mg daily) was given in the control group; on the basis of the treatment in the control group, and acupuncture was applied at Hegu (LI 4), Neiguan (PC 6), Taichong (LR 3), Shenmen (HT 7)，etc. in the observation group，twice a week .The two groups were treated continuously for 4 weeks. The Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) score and the quality of life score (QLQ-C30 questionnaire) were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the HAMD scores in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment (both <0.05), and the HAMD scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (<0.05). In the observation group, the symptom scores of fatigue, pain, nausea and vomiting, dyspnea, insomnia, loss of appetite, constipation, and diarrhea were significantly lower than those before treatment (all <0.05), and the physical, cognitive, emotional function, and the overall quality of life score were significantly higher than those before treatment (all <0.05); in the control group, the symptom scores of insomnia decreased compared with that before treatment (<0.05), and the emotional function and overall quality of life score were higher than those before treatment (both <0.05); in addition to economic difficulties, roles and social functions, the other scores after treatment in the observation group were significantly improved than those in the control group (all <0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The combination of acupuncture and sertraline hydrochloride tablets is better than simple sertraline hydrochloride in the treatment of tumor-related depression, and it can improve the accompanying symptoms and improve quality of life.

Effects of Baltimore Therapeutic Equipment on Traumatic Upper Extremity Injury from Work / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective To apply the Baltimore Therapeutic Equipment (BTE), a kind of vocational training and evaluation system, in rehabilitaion of patients post traumatic upper extremity injury from work, and to observe the effects. Methods Inpatients from September, 2014 to August, 2015 for rehabilitation of traumatic upper extremity injury from work were selected as control group (n=42), and inpatients from September, 2015 to August, 2016 were selected as intervention group (n=36). Both groups received routine rehabilitation, while the control group received con-ventional work simulation training, and the intervention group received work simulation training with BTE, for four weeks. They were measured the standing lifting strength (elbow), squatting lifting strength, dynamic lifting strength (floor to waist), dynamic lifting strength (floor to shoulder), and grip strength of the injured hand and the healthy hand with BTE, before and after rehabilitation; while they were assessed with Disability of Arm Shoul-der and Hand (DASH). The incidence of return to work was investigated at six months of follow-up. Results The standing lifting strength (elbow) (t=4.290, P<0.001), squatting lifting strength (t=2.645, P=0.010), dynamic lifting strength (floor to waist) (t=2.639, P=0.010), dynamic lifting strength (floor to shoulder) (t=5.361, P<0.001), and grip strength of the injured hand (t=2.320, P=0.023) and the healthy hand (t=3.130, P=0.002) im-proved better in the intervention group than in the control group after rehabilitation. However, there was no sig-nificant difference between two groups in score of DASH (t=-0.851, P=0.398), as well as incidence of return to work (χ2=0.05, P=0.944). Conclusion BTE may help to improve the body function in patients post traumatic upper extremity injury from work. However, vocational rehabilitation should focus on the factors other than body function, to improve their return to work.

The Awareness,Treatment and Control of Hypertension and Its Determinants in the Elderly Hypertensive Patients of Dean Nationality:A Multilevel Model Analysis / 昆明医科大学学报

Objective To determine the awareness, treatment and control of hypertension and its determinants in the elderly hypertensive patients of Dean nationality so as to explore the associated determinants. Methods This was a cross-sectional, population-based survey. A total of 939 persons aged 60 years and older sampled by stratified sampling method from the elderly population of Dean nationality were examined from July to September 2016. Meanwhile, the data of medical history and examination were collected. Results There were 353 elderly patients with hypertension in the 939 subjects. The awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in the elderly hypertensive patients (EHP), which was 47.3％, 36.5％and 22.1％respectively, were higher than the results of previous national study and had the upward trends with the increasing age (<0.05) . In comparison with the reference group, EHP living in middle economic level area had the higher awareness, treatment and control of hypertension (<0.05) . The results of covariate-adjusted multilevel logistic regression model indicated that there was a cross-level interaction effect between middle economic level area and dyslipidemia on the awareness and treatment of hypertension respectively, and a cross-level interaction effect between middle economic level area and low fat diet on the control of hypertension ( <0.05) . The individual level covariates, age (OR=1.3412, 1.3144, 95％ CI 1.0217-1.7609, 1.0030-1.7225) and diabetes ( OR=2.6735, 2.3078, 95％ CI 1.0721-6.6672, 1.0240-5.2007), had the positive association with the awareness and treatment of hypertension;age (OR=1.4740, 95％CI 1.0034-2.1654), non-drinking (OR=3.2056, 95％CI 1.5554-6.6066) and low salt diet (OR=3.6969, 95％CI 1.7996-7.5946) had the positive association with the control of hypertension. Conclusion The awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in the EHP of Dean nationality were higher than those of the national level, and the dominant factors were economic level, age, dyslipidemia, diabetes, non-drinking, low fat diet and low salt diet, etc.

Revascularization strategy for STEMI patients with multivessel disease / 天津医药

ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in patients with multivessel disease is a common situation, and suggests poor prognosis. After the reperfusion of infarct-related blood vessels in the primary PCI (PPCI), how to deal with the non-infarct related vessel has been a hot issue. In recent years, more and more evidence suggests that compared with treatment of infarct-related vessels only, revascularization of non-infarct related vessels will result in a better prognosis. But the timing and the choice of non-infarct-related vessel revascularization are still controversial. This article reviews the latest clinical evidence to improve the diagnosis and treatment of STEMI patients with multivessel disease.

Post-marketing study on clinical safety of ginkgo diterpene lactone meglumine injection in 6 300 patients with ischemic stroke / 中国中药杂志

To further evaluate the safety of ginkgo diterpene lactone meglumine injection in the clinical use in ischemic stroke patients. Clinical safety study was conducted in 82 clinical units and 6 300 cases were completed and included from June 2013 to December 2014 by using multicenter, prospective, open and uncontrolled design methods for clinical research. A total of 29 cases of adverse reactions were observed in the experiment. Adverse reaction ratio (ADR) was 0.46%, and about 86.21% (25 cases) of them was mild with transient response which could be alleviated or disappeared without intervention; about 13.79% (4 cases) was moderate, including 2 cases of headache, 1 case of dizziness and 1 case of rash; no serious adverse reactions were found. The adverse reactions occurred in this study were pre-known adverse reactions or common adverse reactions of Chinese medicine injection. The overall incidence of adverse reactions was low, and the risk was controllable.

Dynamic imaging of autophagy-lysosomal pathway and autophagy function following pulmonary hypoxia/reoxygenation in vitro / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Alterations of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway (ALP) and autophagy have been involved in lung ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, dynamic imaging of ALP function under lung I/R injury particularly is not fully understood. Here we depicted the live-cell fluorescence imaging of autophagosome to monitor ALP activation and autophagy function. The pAsRed2-N1-LC3 vectors were transfected into CRL-2192 NR8383 (an alveolar macrophage cell line) and CCL149 (an alveolar epithelial cell line) successfully. 0-h, 2-h, 4-h, and 6-h hypoxia/0-h, 2-h, 4-h, and 6-h reoxygenation were then induced with an ALP inhibitor (3-MA) or activator (rapamycin) in the culture of transfected cells separately. ALP activation was conformed by up-regulating AMPK and beclin1 expression. Apoptosis was not obvious in 2-h hypoxia/2-h reoxygenation. pAsRed2-N1-LC3 CCL149 and pAsRed2-N1-LC3 NR8383 cells revealed gradually enhanced AsRed2 from 2-h to 6-h hypoxia/reoxygenation. AsRed2 varied sensitively to 3-MA and rapamycin interventions during 2-h hypoxia/reoxygenation. Our data provides a simple method of autophagosome imaging to monitor ALP activation and autophagy function in lung I/R injury.

Dynamic imaging of autophagy-lysosomal pathway and autophagy function following pulmonary hypoxia/reoxygenation in vitro / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Alterations of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway (ALP) and autophagy have been involved in lung ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, dynamic imaging of ALP function under lung I/R injury particularly is not fully understood. Here we depicted the live-cell fluorescence imaging of autophagosome to monitor ALP activation and autophagy function. The pAsRed2-N1-LC3 vectors were transfected into CRL-2192 NR8383 (an alveolar macrophage cell line) and CCL149 (an alveolar epithelial cell line) successfully. 0-h, 2-h, 4-h, and 6-h hypoxia/0-h, 2-h, 4-h, and 6-h reoxygenation were then induced with an ALP inhibitor (3-MA) or activator (rapamycin) in the culture of transfected cells separately. ALP activation was conformed by up-regulating AMPK and beclin1 expression. Apoptosis was not obvious in 2-h hypoxia/2-h reoxygenation. pAsRed2-N1-LC3 CCL149 and pAsRed2-N1-LC3 NR8383 cells revealed gradually enhanced AsRed2 from 2-h to 6-h hypoxia/reoxygenation. AsRed2 varied sensitively to 3-MA and rapamycin interventions during 2-h hypoxia/reoxygenation. Our data provides a simple method of autophagosome imaging to monitor ALP activation and autophagy function in lung I/R injury.

Evolutionary analysis of neuraminidase gene of A/H7N9 influenza virus / 病毒学报

In 2013, the World Health Organization reported the first case of human infection with a new influenza A (H7N9) virus in China. This has caused damage and panic within certain areas in China. Therefore, analysis of this virus with bioinformatics technology is very necessary. Neuraminidase (NA) is one of the most important antigens of the influenza virus and an important target for anti-flu drugs. In this study, the nucleotide and protein sequences of NA gene of A/H7N9 influenza viruses were retrieved from the NCBI database, and MEGA 5.0 software was employed to construct a phylogenetic tree based on the nucleotide coding sequence; BioEdit software was used to align the nucleotide and protein sequences of NA and calculate the homologies of nucleotides and amino acids and then to analyze the important mutation sites of NA gene. The results demonstrated that the spread of influenza virus H7N9 showed certain geographical and temporal relations. The H7N9 virus isolated from China in 2013 belonged to Euroasiatic serotype, and its NA stalk region hadobvious variation, which may be one of the reasons that this virus infects human. These analyses may be very helpful for understanding the evolutionary relationship and mutation trend of A/H7N9 influenza viruses.

Effect of electro-acupuncture on metabolites in the cerebral cortex of ulcerative colitis rats based on Pi/Wei-brain related theory / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) at points along Foot Yangming Channel on metabolite of ulcerative colitis (UC) rats' cerebral cortex and to identify key metabolites by referring to Pi/Wei-brain related theory in Chinese medicine (CM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The UC rat model was set up by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) method. Male SD rats were randomly divided into the model group and the EA group, 13 in each group. Another 13 rats were recruited as the blank control group. Rats in the blank control group and the model group received no EA. EA was performed at Zusanli (ST36), Shangjuxu (ST37), and Tianshu (ST25) for 5 days by using disperse-dense wave. Then all rats were sacrificed. Their recto-colon and the ileocecal junction were pathomorphologically observed by light microscope and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Cerebral cortexes were extracted. Water-soluble and lipid-soluble brain tissue metabolites were respectively extracted for metabolic research using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>EA could obviously improve the general condition of UC model rats, decrease the value of DAI, reduce the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the intestinal tract, stabilize structures such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and so on (P <0.05). 1HNMR analysis showed that in the model group, contents of glutamic acid, cholesterol, very low density lipoproein (VLDL) in the pallium obviously decreased, while alanine and low density lipoprotein (LDL) significantly increased. After EA, levels of lactic acid, glutamic acid, total cholesterol (TC), and VLDL all increased, and levels of alanine and LDL decreased. All indices were approximate to those of the blank control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EA at Foot Yangming channel was found to have some effect on metabolites in the brain tissue of UC model rats, which had specific metabonomic material basis and mechanism based on the Pi/Wei-brain related theory.</p>

Efficacy and safety of bevacizumab (BEV) plus chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, mCRC / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab (BEV) plus chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-seven mCRC patients received BEV plus 5-Fu type, oxaliplatin or irinotecan-based chemotherapy. The clinical efficacy and bevacizumab-related adverse reactions were observed. The efficacy assessment was conducted after at least 2 cycles of BEV therapy. The adverse reactions were recorded in each therapy cycle. Among the 77 cases, 64 patients had finished the efficacy assessment. The adverse reactions in all patients were assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall response rate (ORR) of BEV plus chemotherapy regimen was 18.75% (12/64), and the disease control rate (DCR) was 75.0% (48/64). In 27 patients who received the regimen as first-line treatment, the ORR reached 37.0% (10/27), while the DCR was 85.2%. Four patients with potentially resectable lesions became resectable after the regimen and received R0 resection of the liver metastases successfully. Twenty-five patients who received the regimen as second line therapy had poor result with ORR 8.0% and DCR 76.0%. Hypertension was observed in 12 cases, with 8 cases of grade 1, 3 cases of grade 2, 1 case of grade 3. Various bleedings occurred in 24/77 cases (31.2%), all were of grade 1-2, including 17 cases of epistaxis, grade 1 hemorrhoid bleeding in one case, hematuria in 3 case (2 of grade 1, 1 of grade 2), GI bleeding in 2 cases, hemoptysis in 1 case (grade 2), and proteinuria in 4 cases (grade 1). Intestinal perforation occurred in 1 case (0.3%). In two patients who had incomplete intestinal obstruction history appeared exacerbated intestinal obstruction symptoms after the application of BEV plus CPT11 regimen.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>BEV plus chemotherapy regimen as first-line treatment can improve the ORR and DCR of mCRC patients. When it was used as second- or later-line therapy, it may display satisfied DCR, although with a poor efficacy. The bevacizumab-related toxicity is mild and can be well tolerated.</p>

A pilot study of chemotherapy combined with intraperitoneal perfusion of cytokine-induced killer cells for advanced gastric cancer patients with ascites / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the efficacy and safety of chemotherapy combined with intraperitoneal perfusion of cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells for advanced gastric cancer patients with ascites.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2008 to December 2010, 42 advanced gastric cancer patients with ascites in Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University were enrolled in the study. According to personal choice, patients were divided into 2 groups: XELOX chemotherapy alone (Capecitabine and Oxaliplatin) was applied in 22 patients (chemotherapy group) and XELOX combined with intraperitoneal perfusion of CIK cells in 20 patients (combination group). The efficacy, safety, and immunological function, including the time to progression (TTP), overall survival (OS), Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score, immunity index (CD4+/CD8+ ratio), volume of peritoneal fluid, were compared between two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the chemotherapy group after treatment, the combination group had a higher KPS score (78.0±9.8 vs. 70.0±8.9, P=0.009), less volume of 2-cycle peritoneal fluid drainage [(4500±1218) ml vs. (5527±1460) ml, P=0.018 ], longer median TTP (4.0 vs. 2.5 months, P=0.001) and OS (11.0 vs. 6.0 months, P=0.006), higher ratio of CD4+/CD8+ (1.34±0.36 vs. 0.96±0.26, P=0.001). While no significant significances were found between the two groups in disease response rate (35.0% vs. 22.7%, P=0.499) and disease control rate (75.0% vs. 54.5%, P=0.209). There were no serious adverse reactions in the combination group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>As compared with XELOX chemotherapy alone, the combination immunological treatment of XELOX chemotherapy and intraperitoneal perfusion of CIK cells possesses better efficacy for the advanced gastric cancer patients with ascites, which can prolong the survival and enhance the immunological function with favorable safety.</p>

Efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherpy in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer, and to analyze the relevant factors of recurrent death of gastric cancer after adjuvant chemotherapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 49 patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced gastric cancer between July 2007 and June 2011 were reviewed. Preoperative staging was determined by endoscopic ultrasonography and abdominal computer tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Chemotherapy was administered for regimen of two or three drugs. Prognostic factors were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis with Cox proportional hazard model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The response rate was 33.3% (16/48) and disease control rate was 93.8% (45/48). Forty-four (89.8%, 44/49) patients received curative resection after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, among whom 90.9% (40/44) underwent D2 lymphadenctomy. Thirty-two cases had pathological response and 2 patients had pathological complete response. The average hospital stay was 11.6 days and 2 patients had longer hospitalization because of postoperative pancreatic complications. The toxicities were most in grade 1-2. All the patients were followed up postoperatively and the median follow-up was 21.6 months. Median progression-free survival was 29.6 (95%CI:24.0-35.2) months and median overall survival was 34.6 months (95%CI:29.8-39.4). Imaging response (P=0.038, RR=0.168, 95%CI:0.031-0.904) and pathological response (P=0.007, RR=0.203, 95%CI:0.064-0.642) were identified as independent prognostic factors with COX multivariate analysis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has quite high disease control rate and R0 resecting rate for patients with locally advanced gastric cancer. Imaging response and pathological response are most important prognostic factors in those patients.</p>