Effect of Modified Qingzao Jiufei Tang on Quality of Life and Survival Period of Patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To discuss the efficacy of modified Qingzao Jiufei Tang combined with adjuvant chemotherapy on quality of life and survival period of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the moderation effect on immune function and cytokines. Method:One hundred and twenty patients were randomly divided into control group (60 cases) and observation group (60 cases) by random number table. Patients in two group got paclitaxel and cisplatin chemotherapy.The control group took Yifei Qinghua granules orally,2 bags/time,3 times/day. In addition to the therapy of control group, patients in observation group were added with modified Qingzao Jiufei Tang from the first day after chemotherapy to the 12th week after chemotherapy, 1 dose/day. Six-month and one-year survival rates and survival period were recorded. Before and after treatment, lung cancer quality of life scale (FACT-L 4.0) and M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI-C) were scored. And levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+ , natural killer cells (NK), cytokeratin 19 fragment 21-1 (CYFRA21-1), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 were all detected. Result:The 6-month survival rate of in observation group was 78.33%(47/60), which was higher than 60.00%(36/60) in control group (χ2=4.728, P<0.05). The one-year survival rate in observation group was 48.33%(29/60), which was higher than 30.00%(18/60) in control group (χ2=4.232, P<0.05). And the survival period in observation group was 15 months, which was longer than 11 months in control group (P<0.01). And scores of FACT-L and various factors were all higher than those in control group (P<0.01). Scores of disease symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue symptoms and emotional symptoms were all lower than those in control group (P<0.01), and scores of effect of symptoms on daily life in six aspects, such as enjoyment of life, were all lower than those in control group (P<0.01). And levels of NK, CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ were higher than those in control group (P<0.05), while levels of CD8+, TGF-β1, NF-κB, ICAM-1, VEGF, CYFRA21-1, SCC-Ag and NSE were all lower than those in control group (P<0.01). Conclusion:Modified Qingzao Jiufei Tang combined with adjuvant chemotherapy can prolong the survival time, improve the survival rate, alleviate the effect of symptoms on daily life, improve the quality of life, inhibit the expression of tumor markers and cytokines, and stabilize the immune function of the body, with a positive clinical significance in improving the prognosis of NSCLC.

Evaluation of Basal Serum Adrenocorticotropic Hormone and Cortisol Levels and Their Relationship with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Male Patients with Idiopathic Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Prolonged gonadal hormone deficiency in patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) may produce adverse effects on the endocrine homeostasis and metabolism. This study aimed to compare basal serum adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels between male IHH patients and healthy controls. Moreover, this study compared the basal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in patients with and without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and also evaluated the relationship between basal HPA axis and NAFLD in male IHH patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This was a retrospective case-control study involving 75 Chinese male IHH patients (mean age 21.4 ± 3.8 years, range 17-30 years) and 135 healthy controls after matching for gender and age. All subjects underwent physical examination and blood testing for serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, ACTH, and cortisol and biochemical tests.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Higher basal serum ACTH levels (8.25 ± 3.78 pmol/L vs. 6.97 ± 2.81 pmol/L) and lower cortisol levels (366.70 ± 142.48 nmol/L vs. 452.82 ± 141.53 nmol/L) were observed in male IHH patients than healthy subjects (all p<0.05). IHH patients also showed higher metabolism parameters and higher prevalence rate of NAFLD (34.9% vs. 4.4%) than the controls (all P < 0.05). Basal serum ACTH (9.91 ± 4.98 pmol/L vs. 7.60 ± 2.96 pmol/L) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (2123.7 ± 925.8 μg/L vs. 1417.1 ± 498.4 μg/L) levels were significantly higher in IHH patients with NAFLD than those without NAFLD (all P < 0.05). We also found that basal serum ACTH levels were positively correlated with NAFLD (r = 0.289,p<0.05) and triglyceride levels (r = 0.268, P< 0.05) in male IHH patients. Furthermore, NAFLD was independently associated with ACTH levels in male IHH patients by multiple linear regression analysis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The male IHH patients showed higher basal serum ACTH levels and lower cortisol levels than matched healthy controls. NAFLD was an independent associated factor for ACTH levels in male IHH patients. These preliminary findings provided evidence of the relationship between basal serum ACTH and NAFLD in male IHH patients.</p>

Initiating Characteristics of Early-onset Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Chinese Patients / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has traditionally been considered to affect mainly the elderly; however, the age at diagnosis has gradually reduced in recent years. Although the incidence of young-onset T2DM is increasing, it is still not fully clear the onset characteristics and risk factors of early-onset T2DM. The aim of this study was to describe the initiating characteristics of early-onset T2DM in Chinese patients and evaluate the risk factors for diabetes mellitus.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This cross-sectional controlled study was performed using a questionnaire survey method in outpatients of multiple centers in China. A total of 1545 patients with T2DM with an age at onset of <40 years were included, and the control group consisted of subjects aged <40 years with normal blood glucose level.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In patients with young-onset T2DM, the mean age and initial hemoglobin 1Ac at diagnosis were 32.96 ± 5.40 years and 9.59 ± 2.71%, respectively. Most of the patients were obese, followed irregular diet pattern and sedentary lifestyle, had life or work pressure, and had a family history of diabetes mellitus. Compared with subjects with normal blood glucose level, logistic regression analysis showed that waist-to-hip ratio (odds ratio [OR] 446.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 42.37-4714.87), family history of diabetes mellitus (OR 23.46, CI 14.47-38.03), dyslipidemia (OR 2.65, CI 1.54-4.56), diastolic blood pressure (OR 1.02, CI 1.00-1.04), and body mass index (OR 0.95, CI 0.92-0.99) are independent factors for early-onset T2DM.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>We observed that abdominal obesity, family history of diabetes mellitus, and medical history of hypertension and dyslipidemia are independent risk factors for early-onset T2DM. It is, therefore, necessary to apply early lifestyle intervention in young people with risk of diabetes mellitus.</p>

Gene Expression Profile of Persistent Postoperative Hypertension Patients with Aldosterone-producing Adenomas / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Hypertension often persists after adrenalectomy for primary aldosteronism (PA). Many studies have analyzed the outcomes of adrenalectomy for aldosterone-producing adenomas (APA) to identify predictive factors for persistent hypertension. However, differentially expressed genes in persistent postoperative hypertension remain unknown. Our aim was to describe gene expression profile of persistent postoperative hypertension patients with APA.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this study, we described and compared gene expression profiles in persistent postoperative hypertension and postoperative normotension in Chinese patients with APA using microarray analysis. Confirmation was performed with quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction analysis. Bioinformatic analysis (gene ontology analysis, pathway analysis and network analysis) was used for further research.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Microarray analysis identified a total of 99 differentially expressed genes, including 18 up-regulated and 81 down-regulated genes. Among the dysregulated genes were fat atypical cadherin 1 as well as fatty acid binding protein 4 and other genes that have not been previously studied in persistent postoperative hypertension with APA. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that differentially expressed genes were associated with lipid metabolic process, metal ion binding, and cell differentiation. Pathway analysis determined that five pathways corresponded to the dysregulated transcripts. The mRNAs-ncRNAs co-expression network was composed of 49 network nodes and 72 connections between 18 coding genes and 31 noncoding genes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This study revealed differentially expressed genes in persistent postoperative hypertension with APA and provided a resource of candidate genes for exploration of possible drug targets and prognostic markers.</p>

Integrated DNA barcoding database for identifying Chinese animal medicine / 中国中药杂志

In order to construct an integrated DNA barcoding database for identifying Chinese animal medicine, the authors and their cooperators have completed a lot of researches for identifying Chinese animal medicines using DNA barcoding technology. Sequences from GenBank have been analyzed simultaneously. Three different methods, BLAST, barcoding gap and Tree building, have been used to confirm the reliabilities of barcode records in the database. The integrated DNA barcoding database for identifying Chinese animal medicine has been constructed using three different parts: specimen, sequence and literature information. This database contained about 800 animal medicines and the adulterants and closely related species. Unknown specimens can be identified by pasting their sequence record into the window on the ID page of species identification system for traditional Chinese medicine (www. tcmbarcode. cn). The integrated DNA barcoding database for identifying Chinese animal medicine is significantly important for animal species identification, rare and endangered species conservation and sustainable utilization of animal resources.