Relationship between micronutrients supplementation during periconceptional period and serum concentration of vitamin E in the 1st trimester of gestational period / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the association of maternal periconceptional folic acid or multiple micronutrients supplementation during periconceptional period and the serum vitamin E (Vit.E) concentration in the 1st trimester of gestational period.@*METHODS@#A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on the prenatal health care system and clinical laboratory information system. Totally, 22 171 pregnant women who had their prenatal health care and gave birth in Tongzhou Maternal & Child Health Hospital of Beijing from Jan. 2016 to Dec. 2018 were recruited. The usage patterns of nutritional supplements [folic acid (FA) or multiple micronutrients (MM)] during periconceptional period were independent variables, and serum Vit.E concentration and serum Vit.E concentration≥11.2 mg/L in the 1st trimester of gestational period were outcome variables for generalized linear regression model and Logistic regression model, respectively, to analyze the relationships between the independent and outcome variables.@*RESULTS@#The range of the serum Vit.E concentration in the 1st trimester of gestational period was 5.2-24.0 mg/L, and the median concentration was 10.1 (8.8-11.6) mg/L; the excess rate of the serum Vit.E of those who took MM supplementation was 0.3%, and the rates for the groups of FA only or no nutritional supplements used were both 0.1%. Compared with women without nutritional supplement or the women taking FA, the women who took MM had higher serum Vit.E levels in the 1st trimester of gestational period (both P < 0.05). The women taking FA or MM initiated before the conception showed that the serum Vit.E concentration in the 1st trimester of gestational period was higher than that after the conception (P < 0.05), and the serum Vit.E concentration of women who took regularly was higher than that of irregular taking (P < 0.05); with taking compliance elevated, the serum Vit.E concentration of the two groups of women taking FA or MM increased (P < 0.05). The risk of serum Vit.E concentration≥11.2 mg/L among the women taking MM was higher than that of the women without nutritional supplements or taking FA only [odds ratio (OR)=1.36, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.21-1.53; OR=1.39, 95%CI: 1.31-1.48)]; women who took FA or MM showed a lower risk for serum Vit.E concentration≥11.2 mg/L of taking it after the conception than before, the ORs (95%CI) were 0.86 (95%CI: 0.77-0.96) and 0.88 (95%CI: 0.81-0.95), respectively; the women taking the two supplements regularly had higher risk for serum Vit.E concentration≥11.2 mg/L than irregular taking, the ORs (95%CI) were 1.16 (95%CI: 1.05-1.29) and 1.13 (95%CI: 1.04-1.22) for FA and MM users, respectively; with the compliance increasing, the women taking MM had a higher risk of serum Vit.E levels≥11.2 mg/L in the 1st trimester [OR (95%CI) was 1.10 (1.07-1.14)], but for FA users, the OR (95%CI) was 1.04(1.00-1.08).@*CONCLUSION@#Vit.E nutritional status in women in early gestational period in Beijing was generally good, and the excess rate of serum Vit.E was higher in women who took MM during periconceptional period than those without nutritional supplement or taking FA only, suggesting that women need to consider their own Vit.E nutritional status to choose the type of nutritional supplements during periconceptional period, so as to avoid related health hazards.

Screening of Active Components and Analysis of Mechanism of Dipsaci Radix in Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis Based on UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and TCMIP / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To explore active components and mechanism of Dipsaci Radix in treating rheumatoid arthritis （RA） based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry （UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS） and Integrative Pharmacology-based Research Platform of Traditional Chinese Medicine （TCMIP）. Method:UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS with electrospray ionization （ESI） was used to qualitatively analyze the chemical components in methanol extract of Dipsaci Radix under positive and negative ion scanning modes. The mobile phase consisted of 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution （A）-acetonitrile （B） for gradient elution （0-10 min， 0.2%-20%B； 10-20 min， 20%-40%B； 20-25 min， 40%-50%B； 25-33 min， 50%-98%B； 33-35 min， 98%-0.2%B）， and the scanning range was <italic>m</italic>/<italic>z</italic> 50-2 000. Based on TCMIP， candidate target groups of Dipsaci Radix， RA and syndrome with Yin deficiency of liver and kidney were obtained， and correlation analysis on "disease-syndrome-prescription" was used to enrich the main active components and key targets. Cytoscape 3.8.0 and STRING 11.0 database were used to construct protein-protein interaction （PPI） network diagram. Metascape platform was used to analysis gene ontology biological progress and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） signaling pathways. Result:A total of 81 ingredients were identified by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. Based on TCMIP， 283 candidate targets corresponding to 81 ingredients， 7 RA related targets and 215 genes corresponding to syndrome with Yin deficiency of liver and kidney were collected. With further correlation analysis on "disease-syndrome-prescription"， 17 key active ingredients were predicted， mainly including saponins and fatty acids of Dipsaci Radix. It mainly involved 7 hub targets， namely tumor necrosis factor （TNF）， nuclear factor-<italic>κ</italic>B subunit 1 （NF-<italic>κ</italic>B₁）， hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha （HNF4A）， nuclear receptor subfamily 3 group C member 1 （NR3C1）， peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma （PPARG）， nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group H member 4 （NR1H4） and nuclear receptor coactivator 1 （NCOA1）. All of them were related to inflammation， and two of them were related to bile acid pathway. The 7 hub targets and 7 pathways played an important role in RA were screen out， including 4 bile acid related pathways and 3 inflammatory related pathways. Conclusion:UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS combined with TCMIP preliminarily elucidates the regulatory effect of multi-components in Dipsaci Radix on several pathways related to the inflammatory response and bile acid synthesis and metabolism， which lays a foundation for further study on the mechanism of Dipsaci Radix against RA.

Research on PCI Damage Based on Oxidative Stress and Progress in Prevention and Treatment of Traditional Chinese Medicine / 中国实验方剂学杂志

The prevalence and mortality of cardiovascular diseases are still on the rise in China. Percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)is the most effective strategy to reduce coronary artery stenosis and occlusion, it can also improve clinical symptoms on patients with coronary heart disease. Clinically, a large number of patients still have heartache symptoms after recanalization of the great vessel. During the perioperative period, PCI is often accompanied with adverse events such as oxidative stress, inflammation, calcium overload, endothelial function damage, and thrombus obstruction. More specifically, during the process of PCI, oxidative stress is more severe than other damages. For example, during the reperfusion period of PCI, the outbreak of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can lead to abnormal mitochondrial energy transfer and cell ion homeostasis, resulting in endothelial cell injury, it can also increase the level of vascular permeability, albumin leakage, the adhesion of leukocyte and platelet, and the level of vascular stenosis. After PCI, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) brings vasucular restenosis into the category of " palpitation" . The movement of Qi and bloods is tightly related to the five Zang-orans. When the movement of Qi and blood is stagnant, the function of the heart's blood production and circulation is blocked, resulting in Qi of deficiency and blood stasis, thus causing a state of physical weakness. Moreover, at present, Probucol and Ticagrelor and other first-line clinical drugs have certain limitations, and ignore the body' s current status of " essential illusory and real" , unable to coordinate the relationship between the body' s Qi and blood, Yin, Yang and five zang-organs. The purpose of this research is to perform the negative effects of oxidative stress on coronary artery based on the molecular research of modern medicine accompanied with acknowledgement of TCM and to conclude the process of researching prevention and treatment of TCM, and to provide reference for the treatment of coronary artery and coronary artery experimental study.

Relationship between serum vitamin E concentration in first trimester and the risk of developing hypertension disorders complicating pregnancy / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the incidence of hypertension disorders complicating pregnancy (HDCP) and vitamin E (VE) nutritional status among pregnant women in Beijing, and to determine the relationship between serum VE concentration in the first trimester of pregnancy and the risk of developing HDCP.@*METHODS@#A retrospective cohort study was performed including 22 283 cases of pregnant women who underwent singleton deliveries in Tongzhou Maternal & Child Health Hospital of Beijing from January 2016 through December 2018 and received tests of serum VE concentrations in the first trimester of pregnancy. Nonconditional Logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between serum VE concentration levels and the risk of developing HDCP.@*RESULTS@#The total incidence of HDCP was 5.4%, with the incidence of gestational hypertension around 2.1% and the incidence of preeclampsia-eclampsia around 3.3%. The median concentration of serum VE in early pregnancy was 10.1 (8.8-11.6) mg/L, and 99.7% of the participants had normal serum VE concentrations. The incidence of gestational hypertension and that of preeclampsia-eclampsia had been annually increasing in three years; a linear-by-linear association had also been observed between the serum VE concentrations and the years of delivery. According to the results of the univariable and the multivariable Logistic regression analyses, higher risks of developing HDCP had been observed among women with higher serum VE concentrations. Compared to those with serum VE concentrations in interquartile range (P25-P75) of all the participants, the women whose serum VE concentrations above P75 were at higher risks to be attacked by HDCP (OR = 1.34, P < 0.001), gestational hypertension (OR = 1.39, P = 0.002), or preeclampsia-eclampsia (OR = 1.34, P = 0.001), as suggested by the results of the multivariable Logistic regression model analyses. In addition, the women with serum VE concentrations of 11.2 mg/L or above had a significantly higher risk of developing HDCP than those whose serum VE concentrations of P40-P60 of all the participants, and this risk grew higher as serum VE concentrations in the first trimester of pregnancy increased.@*CONCLUSION@#Women in Beijing are at good nutritional status. From January 2016 to December 2018, the incidence of HDCP increased with serum VE concentration level, and serum VE concentration of 11.2 mg/L is an indicator of an increased risk of developing HDCP, suggesting that pregnant women should take nutritional supplements containing VE carefully.

Application of upper arm totally implantable venous access ports in 34 patients with tumor / 中华临床营养杂志

Objective To investigate the safety,feasibility and clinical application effect of upper arm totally implantable venous access port (TIVAP) inserted by the combination of oncologists and nurses in patients with tumor.Methods A total of 34 patients,who needed long-term transfusion treatment,were included in this study with upper arm TIVAP from March 2017 and December 2017.There were 20 males and 14 females.The median age was 63 (35 ～ 83) years.Upper arm TIVAP was implanted by both doctors and nurses into the patients with tumor,and the TIVAP related success rate,complications and patients satisfaction were recorded.Results 34 patients all succeeded in TIVAP implantation with the operation success rate of 100％.The average operation time was about 40 minutes (30 to 60 minutes) from the disinfecting cloth to the end of the suture.The operations of all patients were successful.After the operation two patients died of cancer progression,one patient had soft tissue infection around capsular bag,None of the patients had other complications such as blocked infusion,catheter shift,port reversal,and so on,and the incidence of complication was 2.94％ (1/34).Conclusions Upper arm TIVAP has the advantages of safe puncture,shorter operation time,few intra-operative and post-operative complications and higher feasibility for operation by both oncologist and nurse,which can supplement the limitations and deficiencies of the chest wall port and PICC in a certain extent,therefore is a good choice for clinical application.

The application of frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer in patients with diminished ovarian reserve / 医学研究生学报

Objective The embryonic development is usually observed for 5-6 days during the process of embryo culture in most embryonic laboratories.The article aimed to explore the application of D 6+D7 frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer in patients with di -minished ovarian reserve(DOR). Methods Retrospective analysis was conducted on 285 patients with DOR who were treated with in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in our center from 2015 to 2017.Frozen embryos were harvested from the natural cycle , mini-stimulation protocol, ovulation induction during the luteal phase , followed by frozen-thawed embryo transfer with a total of 442 cycles. The frozen embryos were divided into cleavage embryo group and blas -tocyst group according to different life stages , and comparison was made in general data and pregnancy outcome between the two groups .The blastocyst transfer group was subdivided into Day 5 group and Day6+Day7 group followed by the comparison of different pregnancy outcome between the two groups . Results Patients with DOR were treated with frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer with 291 cycles in cleavage embryo group and 151 cycles in blastocyst group.The implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and ongoing pregnancy rate of blastocyst group were significantly higher than those of cleavage embryo group ( 44.62％ vs 22.46％, 50.33％ vs 33.33％, 37.75％ vs 21.65％, P<0.05) and the abortion rate of blastocyst group was significantly lower than that of cleavage embryo group (35.05％ vs 25％, P<0.05).As to the frozen blastocyst transplantation cycle , the number of D5 blastocysts was 69, and D6+D7 blastocyst was 76. The embryo planting rate, clinical pregnancy rate, continued pregnancy rate and abortion rate of D 6+D7 group were higher than those of D5 group(39.74％ vs 50％, 44.93％ vs 55.26％, 34.78％ vs 39.47％, 22.58％ vs 28.57％), but the difference was of no statistical significance(P>0.05). Conclusion In patients with DOR, the transplanted blastocyst can significantly improve the pregnancy out -come, increase the clinical pregnancy rate and reduce the abortion rate .The embryo planting rate and clinical pregnancy rate of the transplanted D6+D7 blastocyst were higher than those of D 5 blastocyst, but the difference was not statistically significant .The abortion rate was also increased.Therefore, when the number of embryos is limited, patients with DOR may consider transplanting D 6+D7 high-quality blastocysts in order to get a certain clinical pregnancy rate .

Simultaneous determination of eleven amino acids in Gynostemma pentaphyllum by UFLC-QTRAP-MS/MS / 中成药

AIM To establish a UFLC-QTRAP-MS/MS method for the simultaneous content determination of phenylalanine,isoleucine,methionine,valine,proline,tyrosine,aspartic acid,histidine,arginine,lysine and glutamic acid in Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino.METHODS The analysis of aqueous extract of G.pentaphyllum was performed on a Waters XBridge Amide column (2.1 mm × 100 mm,3.5 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of water-acetonitrile (containing 0.2％ formic acid) flowing at 0.6 mL/min in a gradient elution manner.RESULTS Eleven amino acids showed good linear relationships within their own ranges (r ＞0.998 9),whose average recoveries were 90.74％-103.05％ with the RSDs of 0.61％-5.00％.CONCLU-SION This accurate,stable and reproducible method can be used for the quality control of G.pentaphyllum.

Simultaneous determination of amino acids and nucleosides of three species in Termitomyces by UFLC-QTRAP-MS-MS / 中国中药杂志

A comprehensive analytical method based on UFLC-QTRAP-MS-MS was developed for the simultaneous determination of 15 kinds of amino acids and 12 kinds of nucleosides of three species in Termitomyces. The separation was carried out on a Waters XBridge Amide column (2.1 mm×100 mm,3.5 μm) with gradient elution of mobile phase of 0.2% formic acid in water-0.2% formic acid in acetonitrile at a flow rate of 0.6 mL•min⁻¹, and column temperature was maintained at 30 ℃. The target compounds were analyzed by the positive ion multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The principal component analysis(PCA) was made to standardized treatment for the comprehensive evaluation of different species in Termitomyces. The 15 kinds of amino acids and 12 kinds of nucleosides multiple constituents showed good linearity (r>0.997 3) in the range of the tested concentration.The average recoveries ranged from 95.14% to 105.0%,and the relative standard deviations were less than 5.0%. The comprehensive evaluation index obtained with PCA showed that the Termitomyces albuminosus was significantly higher than others in amino acids and in nucleosides, of which the T. aurantiacus was the best. The developed method with good repeatability and accuracy was suitable for the simultaneous determination of multiple functional substances,which provided a new basis for the comprehensive assessment and overall control of the quality of Termitomyces fungi.

Value of sperm acrosin activity detection in selecting the method of assisted reproduction for patients with unexplained infertility / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the clinical significance of sperm acrosin activity detection in selecting the method of assisted reproduction for patients with unexplained infertility (UI).@*METHODS@#This retrospective study included 49 UI couples treated by IVFET (49 cycles) after three failures in intrauterine insemination (IUI) and another 95 couples with uterine tube obstruction (UTO) treated by IVF (131 cycles). We analyzed the laboratory data, clinical outcomes and sperm acrosin activity in the two groups of patients. According to the level of sperm acrosin activity of the males, we further divided the UI patients into two subgroups, a 0.05). The sperm acrosin activity was remarkably lower in the UI than in the UTO patients (36.03 vs 61.98 IU/106, P < 0.01), and so was the fertilization rate in the < 36 IU/106 than in the ≥36 IU/106 sperm subgroup (47.7% vs 80.3%, P < 0.01).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The low fertilization rate caused by decreased sperm acrosin activity may be the main cause of infertility and the potential factor of UI. When sperm acrosin activity is < 36 IU/106 sperm, IVF plus shortterm fertilization by remedial ICSI should be preferred to IUI.

Effects of uranium dust on collagen synthesis in lung fibroblasts / 中国职业医学

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects and mechanism of uranium dust on collagen synthesis in fibroblastic cells.METHODS: i) RAW264. 7 macrophages were divided into solvent-control group and dust-affected group,and then treated with 0 and 120 mg / L( final concentration) uranium dust suspension for 0,2,4,8,16,24 and 32 hours. The supernatants of cells from these two groups were collected,and transforming growth factor beta 1( TGF-β1) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay( ELISA). The best time phase was defined,and the supernatant of RAW264. 7 macrophages culture were separated as the conditioned medium( CM) for subsequent experiments. ii) Normal mouse lung fibroblasts L929 cells were divided into control group and uranium dust group,and treated with the CM of solvent-control group and dust-affected group respectively. After cultivated for 0,6,12,18,24,30 and 36 hours,the expression of α-smooth muscle actin( α-SMA) in L929 cells was detected by immunocytochemistry. The levels of extrac ellular collagen type Ⅰ( Col Ⅰ),collagen type Ⅲ( Col Ⅲ) and hydroxyproline( HYP) were detected by ELISA.RESULTS: i) The level of TGF-β1 in RAW264. 7 macrophages supernatant of the dust-affected group was higher than that of the solvent-control group after treatment with uranium dust for 4 hours,and showed an increasing trend with increasing time during 4-24 hours( P < 0. 05). The peak value was in 24 hours. The best time phase was 24 hours and used for CM of the two groups in subsequent experiments. ii) Compared with the control group at the same time points, the α-SMA expressions of L929 cells in uranium dust group increased after treatment with CM for 18-36 hours( P < 0. 05),the levels of Col Ⅰ,Col Ⅲ and HYP in uranium dust group increased after treatment with CM for 12-36 hours( P < 0. 05); both the expression of α-SMA and levels of Col Ⅲ and HYP increased with increasing time,showing a time-effect relationship( P <0. 05). CONCLUSION: Uranium dust can induce macrophages to secret TGF-β1 and affect fibroblast,increase α-SMAexpression,and increase the Col Ⅰ,Col Ⅲ and HYP synthesis. These might be the important mechanisms of lung fibrosis.

Effects of CD38 gene knockout on inflammatory cytokine production in murine spleen B-cells / 第二军医大学学报

Objective To analyze the number of spleen B-cells and the expression of inflammatory factors and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) in spleen B-cells of CD38-/- mice, so as to explore the effects of CD38 gene knockout on inflammatory factors in B-cells and its potential mechanism. Methods The DNA levels of CD38 and Neo gene in mouse tail tissues were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Spleen B-cells from wide-type (WT) C57BL/6 and CD38-/-mice were sorted by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS), and the purity of sorting B-cells were identified by flow cytometry. The mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and CD38 gene were detected by real-time PCR, the protein expressions of CD38 and SIRT1 were detected by Western blotting analysis. Results We confirmed the successful establishment of CD38-/-mice and sorted spleen B-cells from WT and CD38-/-mice (purity>95%). Compared with WT mice, the development of spleen was hampered in the CD38-/-mice, the number of spleen cells and spleen B-cells were significantly reduced (P<0. 01), the mRNA levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly decreased (P<0. 01), and the expression level of SIRT1 was significantly increased in CD38-/-mice (P<0. 05). Conclusion CD38 gene knockout can reduce the number of B-cells in the spleen; and it can inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors (TNF-α and IL-1β) in spleen B-cells by activating SIRT1 pathway.

Melatonin regulates ovarian function: an update / 中华男科学杂志

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, MT) is a hormone synthesized and secreted by the pineal gland. Recent studies show that melatonin plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of many reproductive processes. High-concentration melatonin exists in human preovulatory follicular fluid and melatonin receptors are present in ovarian granulosa cells, which indicates the direct effects of melatonin on ovarian function. Reactive oxygen species are involved in a number of reproductive events, including folliculogenesis, follicular atresia, ovulation, oocyte maturation, and corpus luteum formation. Melatonin and its metabolites, as powerful antioxidants and free radical scavengers, can potentially inhibit premature ovarian failure. Literature published in recent years shows the essential roles of melatonin in improving human ovarian function and oocyte quality as well as in the management of infertility. Researches on the action mechanisms of melatonin may provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of some clinical diseases.

Transforming growth factor β1 cooperates with stromal cell derived factor 1 to affect the proliferation of hepatic oval cells via β-catenin inactivation / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of stromal cell derived factor 1 (SDF-1) on the proliferation of hepatic oval cells, and the influencing factors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of CXCR4 on the cell surface when WB-F344 cells were growing in the culture medium with and without transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) respectively. Western bolt was used to detect the expression of β-catenin and its phosphorylation level. The translocation of β-catenin was shown by confocal microscopy analysis. Q-RT-PCR was used in detecting the β-catenin downstream gene expression such as Ccnd1 and c-Myc. MTT was used to detect the proliferation of WB-F344 cells which were treated by SDF-1 + TGF-β1 and those cells exposed to SDF-1 or TGF-β1 only, as well as of the negative control group.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>WB-F344 cells rarely express CXCR4 under conventional circumstance, but this receptor can be up-regulated when the culture medium contain a modest amount of TGF-β1 (the rate of CXCR4 positive cell increased by 39.5%). The bond of SDF-1 to CXCR4 results in the phosphorylation of β-catenin, and its inactivation. SDF-1 alone didn't affect the proliferation of WB-F344 cells (0.512 ± 0.010 vs. 0.513 ± 0.008, t = 0.337, P > 0.05), while TGF-β1 group show a slight decrease of cell population (0.393 ± 0.007,t = 28.001, P < 0.05). But when TGF-β1 combined with SDF-1, the proliferation of WB-F344 was more weakened than TGF-β1 group, and the difference was statistically significant (0.272 ± 0.009,t = 32.204, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>TGF-β1 can up-regulate the expression of CXCR4 in hepatic oval cells, and then inhibit the proliferation of hepatic oval cells via inactivating β-catenin in vitro.</p>

Discussions on history of the bloodletting therapy overseas / 中国针灸

To introduce the origin, development and theoretical source of the bloodletting therapy overseas. The bloodletting therapy, which was based on Hippocrates's four fluid theories, had the therapeutical effect and therefor spread abroad. Many people not only thought this therapy was benefit, but also let out blood regularly. During the medieval Europ, the bloodletting therapy reached its top, which was caused by the part-time job of barber. It was questioned when spreading in the America. After that, as the development of the other medical method, the disadvantage was exposed. With several clinical mistherapies, it faded away from the stage of history. The recent research shows that the normative bloodletting therapy could treat some diseases.

Study on effect of intensive treatment for refractory chronic hepatitis C patients / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of intensive treatment for refractory chronic hepatitis C, and to improve the sustained viral response (SVR) rate of treatment with interferon plus ribavirin by optimizing therapeutic dose and course.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients who did not acquire response or partial response by standard therapy (PEG-IFN alpha subcutaneous injection weekly plus Ribavirin 10.5 mg/kg) every day were enrolled and retreated with intensive treatment of 10 MU interferon every other day or 360 microg pegylated interferon alpha-2a weekly according to patients' wishes, and ribavirin 15 mg/kg every day. Serum HCV RNA was detected at baseline,treatment week 4, 12 and every 12 weeks succedent and 24 weeks after treatment end. Course of treatment was 72 to 96 weeks according to viral response. SVR was the mark of therapeutic effect.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>18 patients completed whole range therapy and follow-up, in which 12 patients acquired SVR, 5 patients treatment failure and 1 relapse. 3 patients acquired rapid viral response (RVR), and they all got complete Early Viral Response (cEVR) and SVR. RVR Patients' viral loads were significantly lower than that of patients who did not acquire RVR (t = 4. 687, P < 0.001). In 15 patients who did not acquire RVR, 8 patients acquired cEVR, and 9 acquired SVR. SVR rate of patients who were administered PEG-IFN alpha-2a was 4/5, 11 patients who acquired cEVR all acquired SVR, while in 7 patients who did not acquire cEVR, only 1 patient acquired SVR.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>High percent patients, who did not acquire response or partial response by previous standard antiviral therapy, could gain SVR by intensive dose interferon plus Ribavirin. In intensive treatment procedure, adjusting and prolonging course according to viral response after HCV RNA turned negative were important measures to improve refractory Chronic Hepatitis C SVR rate.</p>

Quantitative tissue velocity image and B-type natriuretic peptide evaluate the influence of aging on left ventricular systolic and diastolic function / 中国综合临床

Objective To evaluate the influence of aging on left ventricular systolic and diastolic function by quantitative tissue velocity image(QTVI) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP). Methods Sixty healthy participants aged from 36 to 82 years old were divided into age <60 years group (32 cases) and age≥60 years old group (28 cases). Compared traditional echocardiography,QTVI and BNP between the two groups, and analysised the correlation between age and the abovementioned measurements. Results Compared age ≥60 years group with age <60 years group, the ratio of early to late mitral annulus flow velocity(E/A) (0. 92 ±0. 18 vs. 1. 28 ± 0. 18), mean of systolic mitral annulus velocity (Sm) ([6. 04 ± 0.77] cm/s vs.[6. 89 ± 1. 03] cm/s) ,mean of early diastolic mitral annulus velocity (Em) ([5. 67 ±0.99]cm/s vs. [7.29 ± 1. 11]cm/s),the ratio of Em to Am(Em/Am) (0. 79 ± 0. 13 vs. 1.18 ± 0. 33) were significantly decreased (t =5. 396,2.478,4.075,3. 535, respectively, Ps < 0. 05), whereas mean of late diastolic mitral annulus velocity (Am) ([7. 67 ±0. 80]cm/s vs. [6. 80 ± 1. 16] cm/s),the ratio of E to Em(E/Em) (14. 83 ±4.43 vs. 10. 68 ±2. 85), BNP ([51. 25 ± 12. 21] ng/L vs. [14. 15 ± 6. 68] ng/L) were significantly increased (t =-2. 268,-2.995 and-3. 523, Ps < 0.05) . Age was negatively correlated with Sm, Em, Em/Am, E/A (r =-0.411,-0. 631,-0.622,-0. 614,Ps<0.05),and age was positively correlated with Am,E/Em and BNP (r = 0.481,0.614 and 0. 684,Ps <0. 05). Conclusion Left ventricular systolic and diastolic function decreased with aging. QTVI and BNP could evaluate left ventricular function sensitively and easily.

Inhibiting effect of letrozole combined with curcumin on xenografted endometrial carcinoma growth in nude mice / 癌症

<p><b>BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE</b>Letrozole is an aromatase inhibitor that is used in the treatment of estrogen-sensitive tumors such as endometrial carcinoma, however, its therapeutic effect is still to be further improved. It is reported that curcumin has antitumor capability and can enhance the sensitivity of tumor cells to anticancer agents. This study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of letrozole combination with curcumin on the implanted endometrial tumor growth.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Nude mice were implanted with endometrial carcinoma RL-952 cells. All tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: control(without treatment), Let(1) (letrozole, 1 microg/d), Let(10) (letrozole, 10 microg/d), Cur [ curcumin, 300 mg/kg.d)], and Let + Cur group [10microg/d letrozole + 50mg/ (kg.d) curcumin]. The tumor growth was monitored. Tumor cells apoptosis was detected in both control and treated groups. The expressions of bcl-2 mRNA and bcl-2 protein were detected using RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Fifty mice were successfully implanted with the endometrial tumor. Treatment with letrozole markedly inhibited tumor growth; the inhibitory effect was further enhanced by the combination of letrozole and curcumin. The inhibitory rates in Let (1), Let (10), the Cur, and the Let + Cur groups were 15.95%, 22.49%, 21.57%, and 35.89%, respectively. Treatment with curcumin inhibited the expression of bcl-2 in tumor cells at the mRNA and protein levels. The apoptosis rates in the control group and the four experimental groups mentioned above were 16.97%, 32.90%, 35.80%, 34.16%, and 47.24%, respectively. Tumor cells apoptosis were observed in mice treated with either letrozole or curcumin; however, combination of letrozole and curcumin further enhanced the inhibitory rate in tumor growth.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Treatment with letrozole or curcumin could inhibit the xenografted endometrial tumor growth by inducing apoptosis in tumor cells. Combination of letrozole and curcumin further enhanced the inhibitory effect of tumor growth.</p>

Clinical observation of effect of jiawei yupingfeng mixture for prevention and treatment of 100 children with repeated respiratory tract infection / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Jiawei Yupingfeng Mixture (YPF) on repeated respiratory tract infection (RRTI) and its impacts on T-cell subsets, immunoglobulin and erythrocyte immune.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundred children with RRTI were assigned equally to two groups, the test group treated with YPF and the control group treated by transfer factor. The clinical efficacy, and the changes of T-cell subsets, immunoglobulin and erythrocyte immune before and after treatment were observed in 31 patients randomly selected from each group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, the frequency of attacking was reduced and the course of attacking was shortened significantly in the test group as compared with before treatment and also with the control group (P < 0.01); IgG and IgA levels were improved in both groups, but the improvement was more significant in the test group (P<0.01, P<0.05); T-cell subsets indices, including CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+) and CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio, all improved in the test group significantly (P <0.01), while in the control group, significant improvement only showed in rising of CD3(+) and CD4(+) (P <0.05, P <0.01), comparison between groups showed significant difference in terms of CD3(+), CD4(+) and CD8(+); in the control group, levels of C3b, RFER and RFIR were changed significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01), but the improvement of ICR was insignificant, while in the test group, the above indices were significant improved as compared with after treatment of the control group (P <0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>YPF plays a preventive and therapeutic role in children with RRTI by way of regulating the cellular and humoral immune.</p>

Expression of human IL-12 in mammalian cell and study on its biological activities / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To obtain recombinant human interleukin 12 by genetic engineering, and to explore possibility of its clinical application in treatment of tumor and chronic hepatitis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Bicistronic expression vector P35-IRES-P40 was constructed for the simultaneous translation of IL-12 p35 and p40 cDNA subunit through internal ribosomal entry sites (IRES). pCI-dhfr-P35-IRES-P40 vector was constructed for expression in CHO-DHFR- cells. Positively cloned cells were screened by means of ELISA. Pools of clones with increased expression of IL-12 could be generated by selection in methotrexate. To determine the biological activities of rhIL-12, PHA-activated lymphoblasts proliferation assay and IFN-gamma induction assay were used in this study.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Genetically engineered cells expressing hIl-12 were obtained and all the cell lines showed the stabile expression of rhIL-12 in high efficiency and good growth properties.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>rhIL-12 have good biological activities, it can stimulate activation and proliferation of T cells and induce production of IFN-gamma.</p>

Interventional management in 20 patients with subclavian artery stenosis:follow-up results / 中国介入心脏病学杂志

Objective To describe our follow-up results of interventional management in 20 patients with subclavian artery stenosis. Methods This study involved in 20 symptomatic patients with an average age of 63.4 years,a mean stenose severity of 86.2% and a mean systolic arterial pressure difference of 116 mm?Hg between both upper limbs. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in the first 8 patients and stenting in the last 12 patients were performed via a right femoral or radial artery. Results Both PTA and stenting were successfully archived in all patients with normalization of radial pulses and a mean systolic arterial pressure difference of 24 mm?Hg between both upper limbs. No major complications occurred. In the follow-up for an average of 18.5 months,19 patients were free of adverse events except one with symptom recurrence. Conclusion As effective,simple and safe procedures,PTA and stenting can be used as a first-line treatment modality for the symptomatic patients with subclavian artery stenosis.