Effect of Circulating Plasma Cells on the Prognosis of Patients with Multiple Myeloma / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#to analyze the effect of circulating plasma cells(CPC) on the prognosis of patients with multiple myeloma(MM) in the era of new drugs, and to explore the new definition standard of primary plasma cell leukemia(pPCL).@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 321 patients with newly diagnosed MM and 21 patients with pPCL admitted to our hospital from January 2014 to May 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the proportion of CPC in peripheral blood smears, all patients were divided into 4 groups: CPC 0% group(211 cases), CPC 1%-4% group(69 cases), CPC 5%-19% group(41 cases) and CPC≥20% group(21 cases). The clinical features of patients in each group were compared and the prognosis fators was analyzed.@*RESULTS@#The median OS of the four groups were 44.5,21.3,24.6 and 12.8 months, respectively. Among them, 295 patients(86.3%) were treated with new drugs, and the median OS of the four groups were not reached, 26.7, 24.6 and 14.9 months, respectively. As the survival curves of CPC 5%-19% group and CPC≥20% group were similar, the patients were divided into CPC<5% group and CPC≥5% group, the median OS of CPC<5% group was better than that in CPC≥5% (43.5 vs 22.3 months, P<0.001). In addition, the median OS of patients in the CPC 1%-4% group was also significantly lower than that in the CPC 0% group and similar to that in the CPC≥5% group. Multivariate analysis showed that 1%-4% CPC was an independent risk factor for the OS of patients with CPC<5%. The patients with CPC<5% were stratified by R-ISS staging, and the OS of R-ISS stage Ⅰ or stage Ⅱ with 1%-4% CPC was similar to that of R-ISS stage Ⅲ. The newly defined pPCL patients showed increased tumor load and obvious invasive characteristics. Multivariate analysis showed no independent prognostic factors for pPCL, and high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities(HRCA) had no significant effect on the prognosis.@*CONCLUSION@#The validity of IMWG's new pPCL definition standard was verified, and it was found that the survival of MM with 1%-4% CPC also is poor and the prognosis is very close to pPCL. In addition, the newly defined pPCL has unique clinical and biological characteristics.

Species identification of Ligustrum lucidum / 中国中药杂志

Ligustrum lucidum is a woody perennial plant of genus Ligustrum in family Oleaceae. Its dried fruit has high medicinal value. In this study, the authors evaluated the variability and species identification efficiency of three specific DAN barcodes(rbcL-accD, ycf1a, ycf1b) and four general DAN barcodes(matK, rbcL, trnH-psbA, ITS2) for a rapid and accurate molecular identification of Ligustrum species. The results revealed that matK, rbcL, trnH-psbA, ITS2 and ycf1a were inefficient for identifying the Ligustrum species, and a large number of insertions and deletions were observed in rbcL-accD sequence, which was thus unsuitable for development as specific barcode. The ycf1b-2 barcode had DNA barcoding gap and high success rate of PCR amplification and DNA sequencing, which was the most suitable DNA barcode for L. lucidum identification and achieved an accurate result. In addition, to optimize the DNA extraction experiment, the authors extracted and analyzed the DNA of the exocarp, mesocarp, endocarp and seed of L. lucidum fruit. It was found that seed was the most effective part for DNA extraction, where DNAs of high concentration and quality were obtained, meeting the needs of species identification. In this study, the experimental method for DNA extraction of L. lucidum was optimized, and the seed was determined as the optimal part for DNA extraction and ycf1b-2 was the specific DNA barcode for L. lucidum identification. This study laid a foundation for the market regulation of L. lucidum.

Study on protective effect and mechanism of Modified Yupingfeng nasal spray on nasal mucosal injury in AR model rats / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To study protective effect and potential mechanism of Modified yupingfeng nasal spray （YPF+） on nasal mucosal injury in allergic rhinitis （AR） model rats. METHODS AR model was induced by ovalbumin （OVA） and randomly divided into model group， YPF+group （50 µg/side，twice a day）， positive control group （Mometasone furoate aqueous nasal spray， 50 µg/side，once a day）； the blank group was set up， with 10 rats in each group. Administration groups were given relevant medicine， and blank group and model group were given equivalent normal saline for consecutive 4 weeks. Thirty minutes after last medication， the behavioral scores of rats were recorded， and the pathological changes of their nasal mucosa tissue were observed. The level of reactive oxygen species （ROS） in nasal mucosa tissue was detected. The protein and mRNA expressions of nucleotide- binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3），caspase-1，gasdermin D （GSDMD） were detected； the contents of interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and IL-18 in serum were also determined. RESULTS Compared with blank group， in model group， the nasal mucosa tissue structure was disordered， inflammatory cells infiltrated seriously， and lamina propria vascular dilation was visible； its behavioral score and pathological score， the level of ROS， protein and mRNA expressions of NLRP3， caspase-1 and GSDMD， serum contents of IL-1β and IL-18 in nasal mucosa tissue were increased significantly （P＜0.05）. Compared with model group， the symptoms of nasal mucosal injury in rats of each drug group were improved to varying degrees， and the above indicators were significantly reduced （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS YPF+ may improve nasal mucosal injury of rats， relieve AR symptoms such as sneezing， itchy nose， runny nose， the mechanism of which may be associated with reducing the production of ROS in nasal mucosa and downregulating NLRP3/caspase-1/ GSDMD pathway.

Complete chloroplast genome of Ligustrum lucidum and highly variable marker identification for Ligustrum / 中国中药杂志

Ligustri Lucidi Fructus, the sun-dried mature fruit of Ligustrum lucidum, is cool, plain, sweet, and bitter, which can be used as both food and medicine, with the effects of improving vision, blacking hair, and tonifying liver and kidney. It takes effect slowly. However, little is known about the genetic information of the medicinal plant and it is still a challenge to distinguish Ligustrum species. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of L. lucidum was obtained by genome skimming and then compared with that of five other Ligustrum species, which had been reported. This study aims to evaluate the interspecific variation of chloroplast genome within the genus and develop molecular markers for species identification of the genus. The result showed that the chloroplast genome of L. lucidum was 162 162 bp with a circular quadripartite structure of two single-copy regions separated by a pair of inverted repeats. The Ligustrum chloroplast genomes were conserved with small interspecific difference. Comparative analysis of six Ligustrum chloroplast genomes revealed three variable regions(rbcL-accD, ycf1a, and ycf1b), and ycf1a and ycf1b can be used as the species-specific DNA barcode for Ligustrum. Phylogeny analysis provided the best resolution of Ligustrum and supported that L. lucidum was sister to L. gracile. This study clarified the genetic diversity of L. lucidum from provenance, which can serve as a reference for further analysis of pharmacological differences and breeding of excellent varieties with stable drug effects.

Research development on modern pharmacological effect of tetrandrine / 中国中药杂志

Han stephania, also known as Stephania tetrandra, expelling wind, relieve pain and inducing diuresis for removing edema, is a traditional Chinese medicine for treating rheumatic arthralgia. Alkaloids have an important pharmacodynamic basis in S. tetrandra, and tetrandrine is one kind content of bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids, which has many biological activities. These activities include anti-tumor in many ways, clinically inhibiting multiple inflammatory factors, preventing and treating liver fibrosis and renal fibrosis and many other kinds of fibrotic diseases, and in addition, tetrandrine could work synergistically with other drugs. In recent years, through in-depth research by scholars at home and abroad, it has been found that tetrandrine has a protective effect on the nervous system and ischemia-reperfusion injury. At the same time, as a calcium ion antagonist, tetrandrine could effectively block the deposition of calcium ions inside and outside the cell. In summary, the application prospect of tetrandrine in clinical practice is very extensive. In this paper, the pharmacological effects of tetrandrine and the possible mechanisms for these effects are summarized, and review its current research progress. It is hoped that the possible application direction of tetrandrine can be revealed more comprehensively, and provide better enlightenment and ideas for clinical application.

Effect of Tetrandrine on Col-I and FN in TGF-β1-induced MRC-5 Cells / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of tetrandrine on transforming growth factor-β1（TGF-β1）stimulated MRC-5 cells. Method:Different concentrations of TGF-β1 (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40 μg·L-1) were applied to MRC-5 cells. Proliferation toxicity of TGF-β1 to MRC-5 was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method. Detection of alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Vimentin's expression levels in MRC-5 by Western blot. Detection of changes of collagen I(Col-I) and fibronectin (FN)'s expression levels in MRC-5 supernatants by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) kit. And the appropriate concentration of TGF-β1 activated MRC-5 cells was screened. The appropriate concentration of TGF-β1 and different concentrations of Tet (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40 μmol·L-1) were applied to MRC-5 cells, and CCK-8 method was used to screen safe concentration again. Western blot was used to detect changes in α-SMA and Vimentin expression levels in MRC-5 cells, and ELISA method to detect changes in Col-I and FN in MRC-5 cell supernatant. Result:Compared with the blank group, 20，40 μg·L-1 of TGF-β1 had toxic effects on MRC-5 cells at 24 hours (P<0.05), and 10，20，40 μg·L-1 of TGF-β1 had toxic effects on MRC-5 cells at 48 h (P<0.05).When Tet is added for 24 h, the half inhibitory concentration (IC50) value was 14.07 μmol·L-1, and when cultured for 48 h, the IC50 value was 7.51 μmol·L-1. Compared with the blank group, the relative contents of α-SMA, FN and Col-I in the 5 μg·L-1 of TGF-β1 group were obviously increased (P<0.05), and the relative contents of Vimentin were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the relative contents of FN and Col-I, α-SMA and Vimentin in 10 μg·L-1 group were significantly increased (P<0.01). 10 μg·L-1 of TGF-β1 was co-cultured with Tet at different concentrations. Compared with the TGF-β1 group, the relative levels of α-SMA, Vimentin and FN in the 5 μmol·L-1 of Tet group were significantly reduced (P<0.01), and the relative levels of Col-I were obviously reduced (P<0.05). In the Tet 10 μmol·L-1 group, the relative contents of the α-SMA, Vimentin, FN and Col-I were significantly reduced (P<0.01). Conclusion:TGF-β1 can increase the levels of Col-I, FN and other extracellular matrices in MRC-5 cells, and Tet can effectively inhibit the occurrence of this change. It is suggested that Tet may inhibit secreting extracellular matrix of fibroblasts in the formation of pulmonary fibrosis.

Comparison between charged aerosol detector and evaporative light scattering detector for analysis of sugar in Zhusheyong Yiqi Fumai and study on accuracy of methods / 中国中药杂志

Evaporative light scattering detector(ELSD) and charged aerosol detector(CAD) methods were established in this study for the content determination of four kinds of sugars in Zhusheyong Yiqi Fumai(YQFM), and the factors affecting the accuracy of CAD methods were discussed. HPLC-ELSD chromatographic separation was performed on a Shodex Asahipak NH2 P-50 column with acetonitrile-water(75∶25)as the mobile phase, with a flow rate of 0.8 mL·min~(-1), drift tube temperature of 80 ℃. The analysis by HPLC-CAD was performed on the same column with acetonitrile-water as mobile phase for gradient elution, with a flow rate of 0.8 mL·min~(-1), a neb temperature of 45 ℃, and power function(PF) of 1.3. The samples of YQFM were detected by ELSD and CAD respectively. It was found that YQFM was composed of fructose, glucose, sucrose and maltose. The linear relationship of the two methods was good, and the recoveries, reproducibility and stability of these four kinds of sugars measured by the two methods satisfied the requirements of methodology. Both CAD and ELSD detectors were accurate and reliable in detecting saccharides components in YQFM. In addition, it was revealed in this study for the first time that the PF parameter of CAD had an important influence on the accuracy of sugar determination and acted as the key parameter of CAD method. It was also found that for CAD, a non-linear detector, there was no significant difference between the results of linear regression and logarithmic regression.

Relation of pupil diameter with control effect of orthokeratology on myopia / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

·AIM: To observe the pupil diameter in different environment on myopia control effect of orthokeratology. ·METHODS: The optometry, pupil diameter and eye axial length were examined in 70 patients aged 8- to 13-year-old with low and moderate myopia, whom then were given night wear lenses, and we measured the length of eye axis and pupil diameter before wearing lenses,6, 12 and 24mo after wearing. In two different light environment groups, each group took the average pupil diameter as the dividing and divided into two subgroups; the pupil diameter higher than the mean group (19 cases, 17 cases respectively), the pupil diameter lower than the mean group (16 case, 18 cases respectively). The paired t-test, independent sample t-test, repeated measures ANOVA and Pearson correlation analysis were adopted to analyze. ·RESULTS: Whether in darkroom or exposed to natural light, the axial length of pupils whose diameter was lower than the mean diameter increased faster than that above the average diameter of pupils (P<0. 01). The initial pupil diameter was significantly negatively correlated with the growth of the eye axis at the end of the 24-month follow-up (r=-0.4267,P<0.05;r=-0.4925, P<0.01). · CONCLUSION: The myopia controlling effect of orthokeratology under two different illumination conditions showed that the effect of myopia control in children with larger pupils is better than that in children with smaller pupils, which may be that the larger pupil makes the orthokeratology maintain stronger intervention on peripheral retina myopic defocus.

Satisfaction of Village Doctors with the Township and Village Health Services Integration Policy in the Western Minority-inhabited Areas of China / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Township and Village Health Services Integration Management (TVHSIM) is an essential form of China's two-tiered health service integration plan at the township and village level.Its main purpose,also one of the target goals in China's new healthcare reform,is to gradually integrate rural health services and appropriately allocate rural health resources.This study aims to assess the village doctors' satisfaction with the TVHSIM and provide scientific base to further improve TVHSIM.A cross-sectional study was carried out in which 162 village doctors from Qinghai,Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang in western China were interviewed.Descriptive analysis,independent t-test,one-way ANOVA,Spearman rank correlation and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the difference and relevance between village doctors' personal characteristics and their satisfaction with TVHSIM and six subscales.Village doctors with different years of practice,social insurance status and essential medical knowledge level showed statistically significant differences in their satisfaction levels (all P＜0.05).Age (P＜0.05) and years of practice (P＜0.01) were negatively correlated with Drug and Medical Device Management and Financing Management.Essential medical knowledge level (P＜0.05) was negatively correlated with Operations Management as well.However,social insurance status (P＜0.05) was positively correlated with Human Resources Management and Drug and Medical Device management.Gender,age and years of practice respectively had significant influence on village doctors' satisfaction with TVHSIM (P＜0.01).In conclusion,in order to further promote TVHSIM policy in rural China,a well-rounded social insurance model for village doctors is urgently needed.In addition,the development of TVHSIM is regionally imbalanced.Efficient and effective measures aiming at rationalizing gender and age structure and enhancing essential medical training should be carefully considered.

Expression and significance of serum NSE, HCY and 8-in patients with acute cerebral infarction / 重庆医学

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of serum NSE,HCY and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in the patients with acute cerebral infarction(ACI).Methods One hundred cases of ACI treated in the neurology department of this hospital from March 2013 to December 2015 were selected as the cerebral infarction group,and contemporaneous 100 persons undergoing healthy physical examination were selected as the control group.The cerebral infarction group were re-divided into three groups according to the infarction volume,the infarction area ＞ 10 cm3 as the large volume infarction group (L),5-10 cm3 as the middle volume infarction group (M) and ＜5 cm3 as the small volume infarction group (S).The levels of serum NSE,HCY and 8-OHdG were compared between the cerebral infarction group and the control group,and among the group L,M and S.The Pearson correlation test was adopted to conduct the correlation analysis between HCY,8-OHdG and NSE with the cerebral infarction volume,neural function deficit,and prognosis.Results The levels of Hcy,8-OHdG and NSE in the observation group were higher than those in the control group,the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05);the levels of Hcy,8-OHdG and NSE in the group L were higher than those in the group M and S,the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05);the Hcy,8-OHdG and NSE levels were positively correlated with the cerebral infarction volume and neurological deficit,and negatively correlated with the prognosis.Conclusion Serum NSE,HCY and 8-OH-dG levels are increased in the patients with ACI,moreover with the infarct volume increase,which are gradually elevated.Therefore serum NSE,HCY and 8-OHdG can be used to assess the severity and prognosis in ACI patients.

MicroRNA-98 inhibits the cell proliferation of human hypertrophic scar fibroblasts via targeting Col1A1

BACKGROUND: Hypertrophic scarring (HS) is a severe disease, and results from unusual wound healing. Col1A1 could promote the hypertrophic scar formation, and the expression of Col1A1 in HS tissue was markedly higher than that in the normal. In present study, we aimed to identify miRNAs as post-transcriptional regulators of Col1A1 in HS. METHODS: MicroRNA-98 was selected as the key miRNA comprised in HS. The mRNA levels of miR-98 in HS tissues and the matched normal skin tissues were determined by qRT-PCR. MTT and flow cytometry were used to determine the influence of miR-98 on cell proliferation and apoptosis of HSFBs, respectively. Col1A1 was found to be the target gene of miR-98 using luciferase reporter assay. Luciferase assay was performed to determine the relative luciferase activity in mimic NC, miR-98 mimic, inhibitor NC and miR-98 inhibitor with Col1A13'-UTR wt or Col1A13'-UTR mt reporter plasmids. The protein expression of Col1A1 in HSFBs after transfection with mimic NC, miR-98 mimic, inhibitor NC and miR-98 inhibitor were determined by western blotting. RESULTS: The mRNA level of miR-98 in HS tissues was much lower than that in the control. Transfection of HSFBs with a miR-98 mimic reduced the cell viability of HSFBs and increased the apoptosis portion of HSFBs, while inhibition of miR-98 increased cell viability and decreased apoptosis portion of HSFBs. miR-98 inhibitor increased the relative luciferase activity significantly when cotransfected with the Col1A1-UTR reporter plasmid, while the mutant reporter plasmid abolished the miR-98 inhibitor-mediated increase in luciferase activity. Western blotting revealed that overex-pression of miR-98 decreased the expression of Col1A1. CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of miR-98 repressed the proliferation of HSFBs by targeting Col1A1.

Pharmacodynamic study on insomnia-curing effects of Shuangxia Decoction in Drosophila melanogaster / 中国天然药物

The present study aimed to establish a pharmacodynamic method using the pySolo software to explore the influence of freeze-dried powders of Shuangxia Decoction (SXD) on the sleep of normal Drosophila melanogaster and the Drosophila melanogaster whose sleep was divested by light. The dose-effect and the time-effect relationships of SXD on sleep were examined. The effect-onset concentration of SXD was 0.25%, the plateau appeared at the concentration of 2.5% and the total sleep time showed a downtrend when the concentration was greater than 2.5%. The sleep time was the longest on the fourth day after SXD was given. The fruit fly sleep deprivation model was repeated by light stimulation at night. The middle dosage group (2.5%) had the best insomnia-curing effect. In conclusion, using the pySolo software, an approach for the pharmacodynamics study was established with Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism to determine the insomnia-curing effects of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Our results demonstrated the reliability of this method. The freeze-dried powders of SXD could effectively improve the sleep quality of Drosophila melanogaster.

A Pharmacodynamical Study on the Improvement of Senile Drosophilas with Fragmented Sleep with the Administration of Shuang Xia Decoction / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

This study aimed at unfolding the therapeutic effects of freeze-dried powder separated from Shuang Xia decoction (SXD) on female senile drosophila melanogaster with fragmented sleep.Taking drosophilas as the model organisms,the locomotor activity was monitored using the autonomic monitoring software to explore the regulation of fragmented sleep in senile drosophilas by the treatment of SXD.As a result,it was found that the optimum concentration of SXD was 2.50％,while the desirable therapeutic duration was 4 days.In comparison with the control group,35-day-old virgin drosophilas'sleep was prolonged in the SXD group and the positive control group.The positive drug mainly affected their sleep in the daytime,while SXD impacted their sleep at night featuring the prolonged fragmented sleep.In conclusion,it was demonstrated that the freeze-dried powder of SXD effectively alleviated intermittent insomnia in the female senile drosophilas.Compared with positive drug,SXD also mitigated intermittent insomnia at night without significant changes in the sleep of the drosophilas in the daytime.Above all,SXD was beneficial in the regulation of sleep-wake rhythm in the drosophilas.

Factors influencing the utilization of postpartum visits among rural women in China / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Postpartum visits (PPVs) are still underutilized in rural China, and identification of factors that influence PPV use is important in ensuring the utilization of maternal health services and for wellbeing of women. A cross-section study was undertaken to collect related data from 347 rural women interviewed six weeks or more after delivery, and an ANOVA was performed to find whether there were significant differences in the number of PPVs among different rural areas in China. According to Andersen's socio-behavioral model of health service use, factors were divided into equitable and inequitable ones. Chi-squared test, univariate and multiple analyses were used to determine the equity of PPV use by identifying factors that were most strongly associated with the use of a PPV. The results showed that 20.2% of the respondents (n=70) did not receive any PPVs, and 62.5% (n=173) of those who had PPVs (n=277) did not receive standard PPVs (referring to at least 3 visits). There was no significant difference among different rural areas in terms of the number of PPVs (F=1.514, P=0.211). Multiple regression analyses revealed that enabling factors such as compensation for delivery expense [OR (95% CI)=2.825 (1.331, 5.995)], village type [OR (95% CI)=1.802 (1.021, 3.182)] and service quality [OR (95% CI)=1.847 (1.074, 3.176)] were strongly associated with PPV use. Both enabling factors such as home visits [OR (95% CI)=1.855 (1.085, 3.174)], service quality [OR (95% CI)=1.993 (1.155, 3.439)] and need factors such as low birth weight [OR (95% CI)=4.424 (1.482, 13.203)] were significantly associated with standard PPV use. Our results suggested that the equitable access to PPVs has been considerably improved in rural areas in China. The associations between inequitable factors and PPV use warrant further exploration, and policies aimed at improving quality and patterns of service supply are needed in order to ensure a full equitable access to maternal health services.

Factors influencing the utilization of postpartum visits among rural women in China / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Postpartum visits (PPVs) are still underutilized in rural China, and identification of factors that influence PPV use is important in ensuring the utilization of maternal health services and for wellbeing of women. A cross-section study was undertaken to collect related data from 347 rural women interviewed six weeks or more after delivery, and an ANOVA was performed to find whether there were significant differences in the number of PPVs among different rural areas in China. According to Andersen's socio-behavioral model of health service use, factors were divided into equitable and inequitable ones. Chi-squared test, univariate and multiple analyses were used to determine the equity of PPV use by identifying factors that were most strongly associated with the use of a PPV. The results showed that 20.2% of the respondents (n=70) did not receive any PPVs, and 62.5% (n=173) of those who had PPVs (n=277) did not receive standard PPVs (referring to at least 3 visits). There was no significant difference among different rural areas in terms of the number of PPVs (F=1.514, P=0.211). Multiple regression analyses revealed that enabling factors such as compensation for delivery expense [OR (95% CI)=2.825 (1.331, 5.995)], village type [OR (95% CI)=1.802 (1.021, 3.182)] and service quality [OR (95% CI)=1.847 (1.074, 3.176)] were strongly associated with PPV use. Both enabling factors such as home visits [OR (95% CI)=1.855 (1.085, 3.174)], service quality [OR (95% CI)=1.993 (1.155, 3.439)] and need factors such as low birth weight [OR (95% CI)=4.424 (1.482, 13.203)] were significantly associated with standard PPV use. Our results suggested that the equitable access to PPVs has been considerably improved in rural areas in China. The associations between inequitable factors and PPV use warrant further exploration, and policies aimed at improving quality and patterns of service supply are needed in order to ensure a full equitable access to maternal health services.

Impact evaluation of HIV/AIDS education in rural Henan province of China / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Nowadays, there is a trend of HIV prevalence transmitting from high-risk group to average-risk group in China. Rural China is the weak link of HIV prevention, and rural areas of Henan province which is one of the most high-risk regions in China have more than 60% of the AIDS patients in the province. Thus, improving the HIV awareness and implementing health education become the top-priority of HIV/AIDS control and prevention. A multistage sampling was designed to draw 1129 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) and 1168 non-PLWHAs in 4 prevalence counties of Henan province. A health promoting and social-psychological support model was constructed to improve the health knowledge of participants. Chi-square tests and unconditional logistic regression were performed to determine the intervention effect and influencing factors. All groups had misunderstandings towards the basic medical knowledge and the AIDS transmission mode. Before the intervention, 59.3% of the HIV/AIDS patients and 74.6% of the healthy people had negative attitudes towards the disease. There was statistically significant difference in the improvement of knowledge, attitude and action with regards to HIV prevention before and after intervention (P<0.05). PLWHAs who were males (OR=1.731) and had higher education level (OR=1.910) were found to have better HIV/AIDS health knowledge, whereas older PLWHAs (OR=0.961) were less likely to have better HIV/AIDS health knowledge. However, the intervention effect was associated with the expertise of doctors and supervisors, the content and methods of education, and participants' education level. It was concluded that health education of HIV/AIDS which positively influences the awareness and attitude of HIV prevention is popular in rural areas, therefore, a systematic and long-term program of HIV control and prevention is urgently needed in rural areas.

Impact evaluation of HIV/AIDS education in rural Henan province of China / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Nowadays, there is a trend of HIV prevalence transmitting from high-risk group to average-risk group in China. Rural China is the weak link of HIV prevention, and rural areas of Henan province which is one of the most high-risk regions in China have more than 60% of the AIDS patients in the province. Thus, improving the HIV awareness and implementing health education become the top-priority of HIV/AIDS control and prevention. A multistage sampling was designed to draw 1129 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) and 1168 non-PLWHAs in 4 prevalence counties of Henan province. A health promoting and social-psychological support model was constructed to improve the health knowledge of participants. Chi-square tests and unconditional logistic regression were performed to determine the intervention effect and influencing factors. All groups had misunderstandings towards the basic medical knowledge and the AIDS transmission mode. Before the intervention, 59.3% of the HIV/AIDS patients and 74.6% of the healthy people had negative attitudes towards the disease. There was statistically significant difference in the improvement of knowledge, attitude and action with regards to HIV prevention before and after intervention (P<0.05). PLWHAs who were males (OR=1.731) and had higher education level (OR=1.910) were found to have better HIV/AIDS health knowledge, whereas older PLWHAs (OR=0.961) were less likely to have better HIV/AIDS health knowledge. However, the intervention effect was associated with the expertise of doctors and supervisors, the content and methods of education, and participants' education level. It was concluded that health education of HIV/AIDS which positively influences the awareness and attitude of HIV prevention is popular in rural areas, therefore, a systematic and long-term program of HIV control and prevention is urgently needed in rural areas.

Effect of Qingre Quyu Granule (清热祛瘀颗粒) on stabilizing plaques in the brachiocephalic artery of apolipoprotein E deficient mice / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Qingre Quyu Granule (清热祛瘀颗粒, QRQYG) on stabilizing vulnerable plaques in apolipoprotein E (ApoE) deficient mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-two male ApoE deficient mice were given a high-fat diet from 6 weeks of age. At the 16th week, all the mice were randomized into 3 groups: the QRQYG group, the simvastatin group, and the control group. Sixteen weeks after administration of 0.9 g/kg QRQYG, 3 mg/kg simvastatin or 10 mg/kg sodium chloride per day to the respective groups, the animals were euthanized. The pathological morphologic changes in the vulnerable plaques were evaluated, the matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9) expression was measured by immunohistofluorescence, the soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) was determined by ELISA, the nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) subunit p65 was measured by quantitative RT-PCR, and, finally, thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) was determined by the immunohistochemical method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The plaque cross-sectional area in the brachiocephalic artery (23.7%, P<0.01), the lipid core of the plaque (43.1%±3.1%), and the number of buried fibrotic caps of the plaque were significantly decreased in the QRQYG group compared to the control group (both P<0.01); furthermore, the thickness of the fibrotic cap of the plaque increased and the intra-plaque hemorrhage of the plaque decreased. The serum soluble ICAM-1 (27.1±5.1 μg/mL), the protein expression of MMP-9 and TSP-1 and the p65 mRNA expression increased in the QRQYG group in comparison with the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>QRQYG could stabilize the vulnerable plaque through inhibition of the inflammatory response.</p>

Predictive value of serum uric acid on cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in urban Chinese patients / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The association between increased serum uric acid (SUA) levels and cardiovascular risk has been debated for decades. Several large studies have provided conflicting results regarding the clinical significance of elevated SUA levels in cardiovascular disease (CVD) or cerebrovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between SUA and CVD and all-cause mortality and their potential diagnostic value.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 3570 in-patients ranging in age from 56 to 95 years (mean (67.36 +/- 11.36) years) were selected from 20 hospitals in Beijing and Shanghai. A carefully designed questionnaire was used to gather baseline data of each patient. All patients were divided into two main groups according to their SUA levels: high SUA and normal SUA groups. Serum indices and other important parameters were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with normal SUA group, high SUA group had significant difference in systolic blood pressure (SBP), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), body mass index (BMI), and age (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). High SUA prevailed in female and patients with history of essential hypertension, while history of smoking and diabetes showed no significant difference between two groups. All-cause and CVD mortality occurred more frequently in high SUA group than in normal SUA group. In the accumulative survival analysis, high SUA group had lower survival rate than normal SUA group both in CVD and all-cause mortality. COX regression analysis indicated that the history of smoking, age and high SUA were independent risk factors for the development of CVD.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These preliminary observations suggest that patients with high SUA levels would face higher risk of mortality. SUA measurement may be applied as a routine predictor for clinical assessment.</p>

Effects of selenium and/or iodine deficiency on chondrocyte apoptosis in rats / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effects of selenium and/or iodine deficiency on chondrocyte apoptosis in articular cartilage in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into selenium deficiency group, iodine deficiency group, combined selenium and iodine deficiency group, and control group. Chondrocyte apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method, and Bcl-2 and Bax in articular cartilage were stained by immunohistochemistry in F3 generation of rats.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In articular cartilage, the positive rate of apoptotic chondrocytes stained by TUNEL in the upper and middle zones in selenium deficiency group, iodine deficiency group, and combined selenium and iodine deficiency group (all P < 0.05) were significantly higher than that in control group. The apoptotic chondrocytes were prominent in the middle zone. The positive percentage of chondrocytes apoptosis was not significantly different among these three groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the control group, the expressions of both Bcl-2 and Bax were significantly higher in the upper and middle zone in the selenium deficiency group, iodine deficiency group, and combined selenium and iodine deficiency group (all P < 0.05); however, the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were not significantly different among these three groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Selenium and/or iodine deficiency may induce chondrocyte apoptosis.</p>