Curcumin solid dispersion based on three model acrylic polymers: formulation and release properties

Abstract To investigate structure-property relationship of polymer-based curcumin solid dispersion (SD), three acrylic polymers were used to formulate curcumin SD by solvent evaporation method. Curcumin Eudragit EPO SD (cur@EPO), curcumin Eudragit RS PO SD (cur@RSPO) and curcumin Eudragit RL PO SD (cur@RLPO) showed deep red, golden orange and reddish orange color, respectively. Cur@RSPO entrapped 15.42 wt% of curcumin followed by cur@RL PO and cur@EPO. FTIR spectra indicated that in cur@EPO, curcumin may transfer hydrogen to the dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate group and thus change its color to red. In contrast, curcumin may form hydrogen bonding with Eudragit RS PO and Eudragit RL. Curcumin exists in amorphous state in three SDs as proved by differential scanning calorimetry and X-Ray diffraction measurement. In vitro digestion presented that lower pH value in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) stimulates the curcumin release from cur@EPO while permeability influences the release profile in other two SDs. When in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF), first order release model governs the release behaviors of all three SDs which showed sustained release pattern. Our results are helpful to elucidate how structure of polymer may impact on the major properties of curcumin contained SD and will be promising to broaden its therapeutic applications.

Attitude towards electronic cigarette and associated factors among college students in Zhejiang Province / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To understand the attitude of college students in Zhejiang towards e cigarette and its influencing factors, so as to provide basis for making prevention and control strategies.@*Methods@#In September 2020, 10 colleges and universities in Zhejiang Province were selected to conduct an online survey by a combination of typical sampling method and convenience sampling method. A multivariable Logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors.@*Results@#Among 884 subjects, 93 (10.52%) were positive about e-cigarettes, 310 (35.07%) thought e-cigarettes were harmless, 252 (28.51%) thought e-cigarettes were not addictive and 67 (7.58%) of respondents were using e-cigarettes. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that gender, grade, cost of living, whether or not smoking e-cigarettes were harmful to college students attitudes towards e-cigarettes( OR =0.59, 0.47, 1.87, 0.34, 0.54, P <0.05).@*Conclusion@#College students in Zhejiang Province have a positive attitude towards electronics and are not active in avoiding the dangers of smoking. To make full use of the work of concentrated trainees in tobacco control, efforts should be made to break the positive image of e-cigarettes. Junior college students should be the prioritized population for intervention, and female students should not be neglected.

Identification of a novel coronavirus causing severe pneumonia in human: a descriptive study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Human infections with zoonotic coronaviruses (CoVs), including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoV, have raised great public health concern globally. Here, we report a novel bat-origin CoV causing severe and fatal pneumonia in humans.@*METHODS@#We collected clinical data and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens from five patients with severe pneumonia from Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, Hubei province, China. Nucleic acids of the BAL were extracted and subjected to next-generation sequencing. Virus isolation was carried out, and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic trees were constructed.@*RESULTS@#Five patients hospitalized from December 18 to December 29, 2019 presented with fever, cough, and dyspnea accompanied by complications of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Chest radiography revealed diffuse opacities and consolidation. One of these patients died. Sequence results revealed the presence of a previously unknown β-CoV strain in all five patients, with 99.8% to 99.9% nucleotide identities among the isolates. These isolates showed 79.0% nucleotide identity with the sequence of SARS-CoV (GenBank NC_004718) and 51.8% identity with the sequence of MERS-CoV (GenBank NC_019843). The virus is phylogenetically closest to a bat SARS-like CoV (SL-ZC45, GenBank MG772933) with 87.6% to 87.7% nucleotide identity, but is in a separate clade. Moreover, these viruses have a single intact open reading frame gene 8, as a further indicator of bat-origin CoVs. However, the amino acid sequence of the tentative receptor-binding domain resembles that of SARS-CoV, indicating that these viruses might use the same receptor.@*CONCLUSION@#A novel bat-borne CoV was identified that is associated with severe and fatal respiratory disease in humans.

Identification of a novel coronavirus causing severe pneumonia in human: a descriptive study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Background: Human infections with zoonotic coronaviruses (CoVs), including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoV, have raised great public health concern globally. Here, we report a novel bat-origin CoV causing severe and fatal pneumonia in humans. Methods: We collected clinical data and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens from five patients with severe pneumonia from Jin Yin-tan Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei province, China. Nucleic acids of the BAL were extracted and subjected to next-generation sequencing. Virus isolation was carried out, and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic trees were constructed. Results: Five patients hospitalized from December 18 to December 29, 2019 presented with fever, cough, and dyspnea accompanied by complications of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Chest radiography revealed diffuse opacities and consolidation. One of these patients died. Sequence results revealed the presence of a previously unknown β-CoV strain in all five patients, with 99.8–99.9% nucleotide identities among the isolates. These isolates showed 79.0% nucleotide identity with the sequence of SARS-CoV (GenBank NC_004718) and 51.8% identity with the sequence of MERS-CoV (GenBank NC_019843). The virus is phylogenetically closest to a bat SARS-like CoV (SL-ZC45, GenBank MG772933) with 87.6–87.7% nucleotide identity, but is in a separate clade. Moreover, these viruses have a single intact open reading frame gene 8, as a further indicator of bat-origin CoVs. However, the amino acid sequence of the tentative receptor-binding domain resembles that of SARS-CoV, indicating that these viruses might use the same receptor. Conclusion: A novel bat-borne CoV was identified that is associated with severe and fatal respiratory disease in humans.

Three-dimensional finite element analysis on en-mass retraction of anterior teeth with clear aligner / 中华口腔医学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the mechanical effects during en-mass retraction of maxillary anterior teeth with clear aligner using three-dimensional finite element method.@*Methods@#Cone-beam CT (CBCT) was used to scan a female orthodontic patient (26 years old, from Department of Orthodontics, Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University) whose maxillary first premolars were extracted and maxillary dentition had been aligned and leveled. A finite element model including maxillary teeth-periodontal ligament (PDL)-alveolar bone-clear aligner was established by using Mimics 17.0, SolidWorks 2016 and Geomagic Studio 2015 software packages. The process of 0.2 mm en-mass retraction of anterior teeth using clear aligner was simulated by using non-linear contact method of Abaqus 6.14. The trend and displacement of maxillary teeth, the stress distribution of PDL and alveolar fossae, and the deformation trend of clear aligner were obtained and analyzed.@*Results@#Under the experimental condition, lingual crown tipping and distal tipping movement of anterior teeth were observed, and all of them had the tendency of overbite increasing.The maximum displacement of the central incisor, lateral incisor and canine were 25.16, 50.34 and 24.98 μm, respectively. Meanwhile, the second premolar, first molar and second molar had the tendency of mesial tipping movement, and the maximum displacement of them were 33.04, 2.90 and 16.63 μm, respectively. The stress distribution both at the PDL and alveolar fossae were consistent with tooth movement pattern. It was noted that the stress in the PDL of the canine and second premolar were comparatively big, and the corresponding apical areas of alveolar fossae appeared stress concentration. Concurrently, it was found that the clear aligner showed stress concentration at the junction of adjacent teeth with a tendency of crown directional dislocation.@*Conclusions@#During en-mass retraction of anterior teeth with clear aligner, attention should be paid to the overbite and torque in anterior teeth, and the anchorage protection of posterior teeth. At the same time, we should be careful of root resorption of the teeth on both sides of the extraction space.

Analysis of mental health status of graduate students in clinical medical discipline and its countermeasures / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To analyze the mental health status of clinical medical standardized training graduate students (referred to as: graduate students).@*Methods@#Through the online questionnaire, the Symptom Checklist (SCL-90), adult psychological stress scale, and occupational satisfaction were used to compare the first affiliated hospital of Bengbu Medical College from January 2018 to June 2019. 498 graduate students of the Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College and the Third People’s Hospital of Bengbu City, and 420 medical non-regular graduate students conducted a survey on the status of psychological stress and statistical analysis of the results.@*Results@#The psychological stress of graduate students(40.28±10.43) was significantly higher than that of non-regular graduate students(36.95±5.13)， and the psychological stress of male students(41.75±11.17) in medical disciplines was significantly higher than that of female students(38.81±9.43). The difference was statistically significant(t=2.44，3.16，P<0.05); There was no significant difference in the occupational satisfaction scores between the two groups(t=1.94，1.27，P>0.05). The SCL-90 factor evaluation results of graduate students were significantly higher than those of non-regular graduate students. The scores of depression, anxiety and terror factor of male students in the graduate students were significantly higher than those of girls, and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#The mental health status of postgraduates in clinical medicine is generally poor, and the mental health of boys is worse than that of girls.

Effect of poly (L-lactic acid caprolactone)/gelatin blend electrospun on angiogenesis of rat bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

Objective · To investigate the effect of poly (L-lactic acid caprolactone) (PLCL)/gelatin electrospinning on the angiogenesis differentiation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs).Methods· Rat bone marrow-derived EPCs were isolated and cultured,then identification was performed.After preparation of PLCL/gelatin blend electrospun scaffold,scanning electron microscopy and water contact angle test were carried out.EPCs were grown on PLCL/gelatin electrospinning and CCK8 was used to detect cell proliferation.The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (Vegf) and kinases insert region receptor (Kdr) was observed by RT-PCR and the expression of VEGF protein was observed by Western blotting.Results· The density gradient centrifugation combined with differential adherence method could effectively isolate EPCs.PLCL/gelatin electrospun nanofibers were porous,and the hydrophilic properties were favorable for cell adhesion,and EPCs grew well on the scaffold.The expression of Vegfand Kdr gene in PLCL/gelatin group was higher than that in control group (P=0.000),and the expression of VEGF protein was also increased (P=0.000).Conclusion · PLCL/gelatin is an ideal scaffold for tissue engineering,and it can promote the angiogenesis differentiation of EPCs.

Three-dimensional study on symmetry of the first molar and its peripheric alveolar bone in skeletal class Ⅲ patients with mandibular deviation / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

Objective·To compare the difference of the first molar and alveolar morphology between the deviated side and non-deviated side in skeletal class Ⅲ patients with mandibular deviation by using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) image combined with three-dimensional reconstruction measurement technology. Methods·Fifty-six asymmetric CBCT data were evaluated by Mimics 10.0 and 3-Matic software. Some measures were analyzed by t-test including the buccolingual angle, the mesiodistal angle, crown root ratio of first molar and the thickness of alveolar or cancellous bone. Results·The buccolingual angle and crown root ratio of mandibular first molar were significantly larger on the deviated side than on the non-deviated side (P=0.021, P=0.004). Compared with the non-deviated side, the buccal and total cancellous bone thickness of mandibular first molar were significantly smaller on the deviated side (P=0.043, P=0.048). There was no significant difference in the ratio of buccal and total cancellous bone thickness on mandibular first molar (both P=0.118). The measurements of maxillary first molar and maxillary alveolar bone morphology were not significantly different between two sides (all P>0.05). Conclusion·In skeletal class Ⅲ patients with mandibular deviation, although the buccolingual compensation of first molar is found, the position of first molar in the alveolar bone is symmetrical. The asymmetry of alveolar bone morphology are mainly manifested in the reduction of the buccal and total cancellous bone thickness on the mandibular deviated side.

Cone-beam computed tomographic evaluation of the temporomandibular joint and dental characteristics of patients with Class II subdivision malocclusion and asymmetry / 대한치과교정학회지

OBJECTIVE: Treating Class II subdivision malocclusion with asymmetry has been a challenge for orthodontists because of the complicated characteristics of asymmetry. This study aimed to explore the characteristics of dental and skeletal asymmetry in Class II subdivision malocclusion, and to assess the relationship between the condyle-glenoid fossa and first molar. METHODS: Cone-beam computed tomographic images of 32 patients with Class II subdivision malocclusion were three-dimensionally reconstructed using the Mimics software. Forty-five anatomic landmarks on the reconstructed structures were selected and 27 linear and angular measurements were performed. Paired-samples t-tests were used to compare the average differences between the Class I and Class II sides; Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was used for analyzing the linear association. RESULTS: The faciolingual crown angulation of the mandibular first molar (p < 0.05), sagittal position of the maxillary and mandibular first molars (p < 0.01), condylar head height (p < 0.01), condylar process height (p < 0.05), and angle of the posterior wall of the articular tubercle and coronal position of the glenoid fossa (p < 0.01) were significantly different between the two sides. The morphology and position of the condyle-glenoid fossa significantly correlated with the three-dimensional changes in the first molar. CONCLUSIONS: Asymmetry in the sagittal position of the maxillary and mandibular first molars between the two sides and significant lingual inclination of the mandibular first molar on the Class II side were the dental characteristics of Class II subdivision malocclusion. Condylar morphology and glenoid fossa position asymmetries were the major components of skeletal asymmetry and were well correlated with the three-dimensional position of the first molar.

Evaluation of pharmacokinetics and in vitro/in vivo correlation of ibuprofen with essential oils as penetration enhancer following transdermal administration / 中国中药杂志

The study was carried out to investigate the pharmacokinetics and in vitro/in vivo correlation of ibuprofen with essential oils as penetration enhancers (PE) following transdermal administration. With Azone as the positive control, ibuprofen hydrogels containing Chuanxiong oil, Angelica oil or Cinnamon oil as PE were prepared and administered to the rat abdominal skin. Then the pharmacokinetics of ibuprofen following transdermal administration were investigated and compared. In comparison with negative control (no PE was added), the relative bioavailability values with the addition of Chuanxiong oil, Angelica oil, Cinnamon oil and Azone as PE were determined to be 161.87%, 171.05%, 151.37% and 148.66%, respectively. In vitro/in vivo correlation analysis was performed by deconvolution method and the results demonstrated a good correlation between in vitro and in vivo percutaneous absorption studies. The correlation coefficients were measured to be 0.999 7, 0.995 2 and 0.999 4 for Chuanxiong oil, Angelica oil and Cinnamon oil respectively. In summary, Chuanxiong oil, Angelica oil and Cinnamon oil as PE could significantly enhance the bioavailability of ibuprofen following transdermal administration. A satisfactory in vitro/in vivo correlation could be obtained by using hydrogel as the dosage form.

A proteomic study of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on the profile of protein expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eleven patients undergoing cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass were enrolled in the study. Peripheral blood samples were collected before CPB (T0), 1 h after CPB (T1) and at the end of operation (T2), and PBMCs were obtained by gradient centrifugation. The profile of protein expression was analyzed using 2-D gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry. The candidate proteins were further identified by Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared to protein profile at T0, 12 protein spots were identified to be up-regulated in PBMCs at T1 (P <0.05), among which S100A9 reached the peak level at T1 and decreased after operation,but not returned to its initial level.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Results indicate that 12 proteins are likely to be involved in CPB, however, their roles need to be elucidated.</p>

Intravenous injection rate and site of fentanyl affect the incidence and onset time of fentanyl-induced cough / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of intravenous injection rate and site of fentanyl on the incidence and onset time of fentanyl-induced cough.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Seventy-five ASA class I or II patients were randomized into 3 groups and received intravenous fentanyl administration at 4 microg/kg in different manners. In group A, fentanyl was injected within 2 s into the forearm veins; in group B, fentanyl was injected in 2 s through the dorsal foot veins or the great saphenous vein anterior to the ankle; in group C, fentanyl was injected in 15 s by the same route as in group A.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The incidence of cough was 44%, 52% and 8%, with cough onset time of 16.1-/+2.7 s, 21.9-/+3.7 s and 23.3-/+3.2 s in groups A, B and C, respectively. Compared with group A, group B had a delayed onset of cough (P<0.05), and group C had both a lowered incidence of cough (P<0.05) and delayed onset of cough (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The rate of fentanyl injection through the same peripheral venous access at the same dose may affect the incidence and onset time of cough. At the same dose and injection rate of fentanyl, forearm venous access of injection resulted in earlier onset of cough than lower limb venous access, but the incidence is similar.</p>

Low-dose ketamine combined with fentanyl for intravenous postoperative analgesia in elderly patients / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical efficacy of and complications arising from low-dose ketamine combined with fentanyl for intravenous postoperative analgesia in comparison with the exclusive use of fentanyl in elderly patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty elderly patients were randomized into two equal groups following thoracoabdominal surgery, and received intravenous analgesia with the combination of 0.5 mg/ml ketamine, 5.0 microg/ml fentanyl and 50 microg/ml midazolam (KF group) and with 7.5 microg/ml fentanyl plus 50 microg/ml midazolam (FT group), respectively. The drugs used were diluted in 200 ml normal saline. For analgesic administration, a loading dose (2-4 ml) was given followed by a background infusion (2.5-3.5 ml), with patient-controlled bolus doses of 2.0-3.0 ml with lock-out time of 20 min via PCA pump (Automedical, Korea). The static pain score (VAS), sedation score, and incidences of nausea, vomiting, pruritus and hallucinations were recorded during the initial 48 h after the surgery.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total analgesic dosage and PCA dosage in the two groups were similar (P>0.05). With similar VAS in the two groups (P>0.05), the sedative effect in KF group was much better than that in FT group (P<0.05) during the initial 48 h postoperatively. The incidences of nausea, vomiting and itching were lower in KF group than in FT group (P<0.05), and no illusion was reported in two groups during the initial 48 h.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>For producing comparable postoperative analgesic effect, low-dose ketamine combined with fentanyl can markedly reduce fentanyl requirement in the elderly patients and lowers the incidences of nausea, vomiting and itching in comparison with the exclusive use of fentanyl.</p>

Analysis of Clinical Characteristic Pathology and Prognosis in Infant with Intra-Abdominal Solid Tumor / 实用儿科临床杂志

ObjectiveTo analyze the relationship between clinical characteristic pathology and prognosis in infant with intra-abdominal solid tumor.MethodsFifty-two infants(less than 1 year old) with abdominal solid tumor from Apr.1998 to Feb.2007 in Shanghai Children's Medical Center and from Jan.2001 to Feb.2007 in Shanghai Xinhua Hospital were reviewed.The history of these children were reviewed.Features and clinical pathology of these children with their prognosis were analyzed and followed up by telephones and children return visit records from 5 months to 8 years.ResultsLess than 1 month,7 cases;1 month to 1 year old,45 cases.Teratoma 23 cases(44.23%),neuroblastoma 9 cases(17.31%),nephroblastoma 6 cases(11.54%),hepatoblastoma 5 cases(9.62%),epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver 3 cases(5.77%),congenital mesoblastic nephroma 3 cases(5.77%),fusiform cell epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of pancreas 1 case(1.92%),hamartoma of the liver 1 case(1.92%),retroperitoneal small cell malignant tumor 1 case(1.92%).Benign:malignant=1:1.Among the benign tumor,male:female=1:1.Among the malignant tumor,male:female=2.33:1.0.All children were treated with tumor resection,and combined with chemotherapy for those whose tumors were malignant.ConclusionsAmong infant abdominal solid tumors,teratoma and neuroblastoma are much more than other tumors.The cases of benign tumors are almost as much as the malignant tumors.The benign tumors did not have sex differences,and had good prognosis after surgical resection.However,in malignant tumors,the incidence rate of male is obviously higher than female.Completely resection of those malignant tumors with chemotherapy would get little incidence of recrudescence and low case fatality rate.Early diagnosis and early treatment play an important role in prognosis.

Clinical research of heart rate turbulence on predictive value in patients with acute myocardial infarction / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the predictive value of heart rate turbulence (HRT) in patients with acute myocardial infarction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty-five patients with acute myocardial infarction were enrolled in this study. During the period from 6 to 21 days after onset of acute myocardial infarction, they were undergone 24-hour Holter recordings to collect the mean RR interval and heart rate variability (HRV) SDNN. The Holter files were processed with software of "HRT! View V0.60-1" to obtain the value of Turbulence Onset (TO) and Turbulence Slope (TS) and the value of "heart rate variability (HRV) SDNN". LVEF and EDD were measured by Ultrasonic Cardiography. Endpoint of follow-up was cardiac death. According to the results, patients were divided into two groups (the "survivors" and the "nonsurvivors"). The predictive value for high-risk patients with acute myocardial infarction was assessed by variables between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the period of follow-up (mean 225.4 +/- 99.8 days), 14 patients died and 111 patients survived. In the univariate Cox regression analysis, "TS" was a strong univariate predictor of mortality (hazard ratio 11.46, P < 0.01); "TO" was a relatively weak predictor and the hazard ratio was 2.76 (P > 0.05). Combination of abnormal TO and abnormal TS was the strongest mortality predictor (hazard ratio 26.70, P < 0.01); in the multivariate Cox regression analysis, TS < or = 2.5 ms/RR and EDD > or = 5.6 cm were the independent predictors of mortality with hazard ratios 9.49 (P < 0.01) and 3.64 (P < 0.05), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The absence of the heart rate turbulence after ventricular premature beats is a very potent post-infarction risk predictor which is independent of and stronger than other known risk predictors.</p>

Treatment of intertrochanteric fractures with PFN introduction by minimally invasive percutaneous K-wire versus with conventional PFN introduction:a prospective randomized comparison / 中华创伤骨科杂志

Objective To compare proximal femoral nail(PFN)introduction by percutaneous K-wire through a small incision with conventional PFN introduction protocol in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures. Methods From January 2004 to March 2005,51 patients with intertrochanteric fractures were randomly dis- tributed into a minimally invasive treatment group(group MI)and a conventional treatment group(group C).All the fractures were closely reduced.In group MI a K-wire was percutaneously inserted through the tip of the greater troehanter into the center of medullary canal of the pruximal femur before the PFN was inserted under the guidance of K-wire through a small incision made along the K-wire while in group C the PFN was introduced according to the conventional procedure.The operation time,intra-operative blood loss,length of incision,X-ray exposure,duration of in-patient stay and time of bone union in both groups were recorded and compared.Results The mean oper- ation time,mean intraoperative blood loss and mean length of incisions in group MI were 77.20 min,104.20 mL and 5.12 cm respectively and significantly lower than those in group C(P＜0.01).The X-ray exposure and the reduction time in group MI lasted longer than in group C(P＜0.01).The mean time of bone union and in-patient stay in both groups were nearly equal(P＞0.05).At the latest tollow-up,all the fractures united in both groups without nonuuion or delayed union.Conclusion Compared with the conventional protocol,introduction of PFN by a pereutaneuus K-wire inserted into the central medullary canal of the proximal femur is much more minimally in- vasive and effective.