Investigation of pharmacological characteristics and mechanisms of Qufeng Gutong Cataplasm based on a "disease-syndrome-symptom-formula" association network analysis / 药学学报

Growing clinical evidence shows that Qufeng Gutong Cataplasm may exert a significant analgesic effect. However, the pharmacological characteristics and mechanisms underlying this prescription are still unclear. In the current study, a "disease-syndrome-symptom-formula" association network analysis was performed to explore the pharmacological characteristics and mechanisms of Qufeng Gutong Cataplasm against osteoarthritis (OA), neuropathic pain (NP), chronic inflammatory pain (CIP) and myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) by integrating clinical phenomics data, transcriptomics data and biological interaction network mining. As a result, the three functional modules (Qufeng Sanhan-QFSHG, Shujin Huoxue-SJHXG and Xiaozhong Zhitong-XZZTG) enriched by the drug network targets were all related to the pharmacological effects of Qufeng Gutong Cataplasm, including dispersing cold and relieving pain, activating blood and relieving pain, reducing swelling and relieving pain. In addition, the main pharmacological effects of QFSHG and XZZTG were dispelling wind and dispersing cold and dehumidifying, promoting Qi and reducing swelling and relieving pain, respectively. In terms of reversing the imbalance of "immune-inflammation-vascular axis", the main pharmacological effects of SJHXG were regulating the liver and promoting Qi, activating blood circulation and removing stasis. Mechanically, the key network targets of Qufeng Gutong Cataplasm against OA, NP, CIP and MPS may play a therapeutic role in relieving hyperalgesia and paresthesia by reversing the "neuro-endocrine-immune" imbalance system during the occurrence and progression of diseases. In conclusion, our data indicate that Qufeng Gutong Cataplasm may relieve the pain and wind-cold-dampness arthralgia syndrome related symptoms by regulating the "neuro-endocrine-immune" system, neurological and endocrine disorders and reversing the imbalance of "immunity-inflammation". The relevant results may provide a network-based evidence for clinical positioning of Qufeng Gutong Cataplasm, and offer a direction for further clinical and experimental validation.

Coping strategy in persons with low vision or blindness – an exploratory study

Purpose: Coping strategies employed by people with visual disability can influence their quality of life (QoL). We aimed to assess coping in patients with low vision or blindness. Methods: In this descriptive cross sectional study, 60 patients (25–65 years) with <6/18 best-corrected vision (BCVA) in the better eye and vision loss since ?6 months were recruited after the institutional ethics clearance and written informed consent. Age, gender, presence of other chronic illness, BCVA, coping strategies (Proactive Coping Inventory, Hindi version), and vision-related quality of life (VRQoL; Hindi version of IND-VFQ33) were recorded. Range, mean (standard deviation) for continuous and proportion for categorical variables. Pearson correlation looked at how coping varied with age and with VRQoL. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t-test compared coping scores across categorical variables. Statistical significance was taken at P < 0.05. Results: Sixty patients fulfilled inclusion criteria. There were 33 (55%) women; 25 (41.7%) had low vision, 5 (8.3%) had economic blindness, and 30 (50.0%) had social blindness; 27 (45.0%) had a co-morbid chronic illness. Total coping score was 142 ± 26.43 (maximum 217). VRQoL score (maximum 100) was 41.9 ± 15.98 for general functioning; 32.1 ± 12.15 for psychosocial impact, and 41.1 ± 17.30 for visual symptoms. Proactive coping, reflective coping, strategic planning, and preventive coping scores correlated positively with VRQoL in general functioning and psychosocial impact. Conclusion: Positive coping strategies are associated with a better QoL. Ophthalmologists who evaluate visual disability should consider coping mechanisms that their patients employ and should refer them for counseling and training in more positive ways of coping.

Research on Mechanism of Drug Clinical Hold in USA / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the mechanism of clinical hold in USA and to provide reference and enlightenment for clinical trial review process reform in China. METHODS: Analyzed the regulation, review process, reasons and impacts of drug clinical hold in USA and compared with clinical trial system in China, then provided advice for our country. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: FDA review IND by implied license process within only 30 d, and may permit the clinical trials begin as early as possible, the clinical trial could be imposed on hold, and the hold could also be lifted or transfer into inactive status, thus protect the health and rights of subjects to the largest extent, and in the same time improved the review efficiency. It is necessary and feasible that clinical hold is introduced into clinical trial system in our country.

Idiopathic Intestinal Pseudo-obstruction in Infants Surgically Treated: Findings to Help Diagnose Intestinal Neuronal Dysplasia and the Significance of Surgical Treatment

PURPOSE: Intestinal neuronal dysplasia (IND) causes intestinal pseudo-obstruction and shares clinical features with Hirschsprung's disease. Diagnosis of IND involves histopathological features of an intestinal biopsy, but diagnostic criteria are controversial and optimal treatment is unclear. We determined the pathological findings for diagnosing IND in infants and the significance of surgical treatment. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 4 patients who received bowel surgery for an intestinal obstruction without a definite obstructive cause that were subsequently diagnosed as IND by postoperative pathology. The clinical history and results of immunohistochemistry for ganglion and nerve fibers (NCAM, NSE, cathepsin D, synaptophysin) were compared between patients and control cases. RESULTS: All 4 patients were premature babies with symptoms of poor oral intake and abdominal distention. Surgical treatment was segmental resection of the small bowel in one case, segmental resection of the small bowel and double-barreled ileostomy in one case with NEC, and a temporary ileostomy for decompression and appendectomy for biopsy in 2 cases. The first 2 patients died of sepsis and DIC, respectively. The postoperative course of the other 2 patients was excellent for long-term follow up (30+/-6months). Patients with IND showed significantly more submucosal giant plexuses and ganglia in the submucosal plexus, a higher percentage of giant plexus in the 20 submucosal plexus, as well as increased incidence of heterotopic ganglia in the lamina propria, bud-like ganglia, anisomorphic ganglia, and immature ganglia. CONCLUSION: Proper surgical treatment of persistent intestinal pseudo-obstruction, including IND, can affect the prognosis and recovery of bowel function, with positive pathological findings helpful for diagnosing IND in infancy.

A preliminary study of arsenic trioxide induced apoptosis of human cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 cell line / 中国普通外科杂志

Objective To study arsenic trioxide induces apoptosis of human cholangiocarcinoma cell line QBC939. Methods MTT was applied to detect the inhibitory effect of arsenic trioxide on cholangiocarcinoma cell line QBC939. Morphological changes were observed by light microscopy and fluorescence microscopy. Rhodamine123 dyeing and analysis of DNA content and cell cycle were examined by flow cytometry. Results Cell growth was significantly inhibited by different concentration(1-16?mol/L) of arsenic trioxide. The inhibition ratio was dependent on arsenic concentration and time. The typical morphological character of ~apoptosis was observed, apoptotic peak of hypodiploid was detected and fluorescence intensity of ~Rhodamine 123 decreased when the cells were cultured with 4?mol/L As_2O_3. Conclusions As_2O_3 can induce ~apoptosis of cell line QBC939. The mechanism may be related to the depolarization of mitochondrial ~membrane potential.

Effect of caspase-9 in the apoptosis of hepatoma cells induced by flurouracil / 中国普通外科杂志

Objective To determine the effect of caspase 9 in the apoptosis of hepatoma cells induced by flurouracil , and to investigate the activity alteration and proteolytic cleavage of caspase 9. Methods The human hepatoma HepG2 cells were treated with flurouracil for 2,4,8,16,24h respectively. The caspase 9 activity was detected using caspase 9 Fluorescent Assay Kit.Proteolytic cleavage of caspase 9 was analyzed by Western blot.The apoptotic rates of HepG2 cells induced by flurouracil with or without caspase 9 inhibitor treatment were measured by flow cytometry. Results Four hours after being treated with flurouracil, the caspase 9 activity in HepG2 cells increased gradually and reached the peak at 16h.Compared with the control group, the difference was significant (P