Correlation between serum lipocalin-2 and white matter hyperintensities in patients with ischemic stroke / 国际脑血管病杂志

Objective:To investigate the correlation between the lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) level and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) in patients with ischemic stroke.Methods:Consecutive patients with ischemic stroke admitted to the Department of Neurology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University from September 2021 to November 2021 and whose duration from onset to hospitalization <14 d were prospectively enrolled. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the serum LCN-2. Fazekas scale was used to assess the severity of periventricular and subcortical WMHs. A total WMHs score ≥3 was defined as severe WMHs. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the correlation between serum LCN-2 level and WMHs. Results:A total of 179 patients were enrolled, including 122 males (68.2%), aged 64.7±11.6 years. The median serum LCN-2 level was 387.1 g/L, and 86 patients (48.0%) had severe WMHs. Serum LCN-2 in the severe WMH group was significantly higher than that in the non-severe WMH group (505.3±342.4 g/L vs. 367.8±224.5 g/L; t=3.110, P=0.002). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for the relevant confounding factors, there was a significant correlation between higher serum LCN-2 and severe WMHs (odds ratio 2.32, 95% confidence interval 1.17-4.63; P=0.017) and higher total WMHs score (odds ratio 1.62, 95% confidence interval 1.12-2.35; P=0.011). Conclusion:Higher serum LCN-2 level is associated with severe WMHs in patients with ischemic stroke.

Changes in the vessel densities of macular and optic nerve head and their relationships with axial length in pathological myopia / 中华眼底病杂志

Objective:To observe the changes of vessel densities (VD) in the macula and optic disc and its correlation with axial length (AL) in pathological myopia (PM).Methods:A retrospective clinical study. A total of 171 eyes from 171 patients admitted to Department of Ophthalmology of Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University from June 2019 to December 2019 were included in this study. Among them, there were 72 males and 99 females; age was 35.0±10.8 years old. The patients were divided into PM group, high myopia (HM) group and non-HM group, 51 cases with 51 eyes, 70 cases with 70 eyes, and 50 cases with 50 eyes, respectively. Optical coherence tomography angiography was used to scan the macular and optic disc areas of all the examined eyes in the range of 6 mm×6 mm. According to the early treatment of diabetic retinopathy study, the 6 mm macular and optic disc scan range was centered on the macular fovea and optic disc, respectively, then divided into two concentric circles with diameters of 1 mm of central area, an annulus between 1-3 mm circles of paracentral area. The paracentral area was divided into superior, inferior, nasal, temporal four quadrants by 2 radiation lines. The VD of superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP), outer retina, and choriocapillaris layer were calculated in the central, superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal areas, respectively. The VD of PM, HM and non-HM groups were compared. The variance analysis was used to compare the VD among the three groups; Pearson’s correlation was used to assess the correlation between VD and AL.Results:The perifoveal VD of the SCP, outer retina and choriocapillaris layers were all lower in the PM than those of HM and non-HM group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The VD of DCP macular central was higher in the PM than in the HM group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.020). In the optic disc, the VD were lower in the PM group than in the non-HM group except for the area of DCP superior, inferior, temporal, outer retinal center, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The results of correlation analysis showed that the VD in the DCP macular central, ONH superior and the choriocapillaris ONH central were not correlated with AL ( P=0.647, 0.688, 0.146), and the other VDs were negatively correlated with AL ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with HM and non-HM groups, the majority of VDs in macular and ONH are lower in participants with PM.

The impact of lymph node dissection on survival in patients with clinical early-stage ovarian cancer / 부인종양

Objective@#To estimate the impact of lymph node dissection on survival in patients with apparent early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). @*Methods@#We conducted a retrospective review of patients with clinical stage I–II EOC. All patients underwent primary surgery at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between January 2003 and December 2015. Demographic features and clinicopathological information as well as perioperative adverse events were investigated, and survival analyses were performed. @*Results@#A total of 400 ovarian cancer patients were enrolled, and patients were divided into 2 groups: 81 patients did not undergo lymph node resection (group A), and 319 patients underwent lymph node dissection (group B). In group B, the median number of removed nodes per patient was 25 (21 pelvic and 4 para-aortic nodes). In groups A and B, respectively, the 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 83.3% and 82.1% (p=0.305), and the 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 93.1% and 90.9% (p=0.645). The recurrence rate in the retroperitoneal lymph nodes was not associated with lymph node dissection (p=0.121).The median operating time was markedly longer in group B than in group A (220 minutes vs. 155 minutes, p<0.001), and group B had a significantly higher incidence of lymph cysts at discharge (32.9% vs. 0.0%, p<0.001). @*Conclusion@#In patients with early-stage ovarian cancer, lymph node dissection was not associated with a gain in OS or PFS and was associated with an increased incidence of perioperative adverse events.

Chronic radiation-induced rectal injury after adjuvant radiotherapy for pelvic malignant tumors: report based on a phase 3 randomized clinical trial / 中华胃肠外科杂志

Objective: Radiotherapy is one of the standard treatments for pelvic malignant tumors. However, researches associated with intestinal radiation injury and the quality of life (QoL) of patients receiving radiotherapy were lacking in the past. This study aims to analyze the occurrence of radiation-induced rectal injury after adjuvant radiotherapy for pelvic malignant tumors and call for more attention on this issne. Methods: A retrospectively observational study was conducted. Case data of cervical cancer patients from the database of STARS phase 3 randomized clinical trial (NCT00806117) in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center were analyzed. A total of 848 cervical cancer patients who received adjuvant radiation following hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from February 2008 to August 2015 were recruited. The pelvic radiation dosage was 1.8 Gy/day or 2.0 Gy/day, five times every week, and the total dosage was 40-50 Gy. Among 848 patients, 563 patients received radiation six weeks after surgery, of whom 282 received adjuvant radiation alone and 281 received concurrent chemoradiotherapy (weekly cisplatin); other 285 patients received sequential chemoradiotherapy (paclitaxel and cisplatin). Acute adverse events, chronic radiation damage of rectum, and QoL were collected and analyed. The digestive tract symptoms and QoL were evaluated based on EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaires at one week after surgery (M0), during adjuvant therapy period (M1), and at 12 months and 24 months after the completion of treatments (M12 and M24), respectively. Higher scores in the functional catalog and overall quality of life indicated better quality of life, while higher scores in the symptom catalog indicated severe symptoms and worse QoL. Chronic radiation rectal injury was defined as digestive symptoms that were not improved within three months after radiotherapy. Grading standard of acute adverse events and chronic radiation rectal injury was according to the gastrointestinal part of National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.0 (NCI-CTCAE Version 4.0). Results: The mean total radiation dosage of 848 patients was (47.8±4.6) Gy. During adjuvant therapy, the common symptoms of acute intestinal dysfunction were nausea (46.0%, 390/848), vomiting (33.8%, 287/848), constipation (16.3%, 138/848) and abdominal pain (10.3%, 87/848). At M12 and M24, the number of 0 QLQ-C30 questionnaires collected was 346 and 250, respectively. QLQ-C30 questionnaires showed that the scores of nausea or vomiting, appetite decrease, diarrhea, constipation, etc. were improved obviously at M12 or M24 compared with those at M0 or during M1 (all P<0.05). As the extension of the follow-up time, the score of the overall QoL of patients gradually increased [M0: 59.7 (0.0-100.0); M1: 63.1 (0.0-100.0); M12: 75.2 (0.0-100.0); M24: 94.1 (20.0-120.0); H=253.800, P<0.001]. Twelve months after the completion of treatments, the incidence of chronic radiation rectal injury was 9.8% (34/346), mainly presenting as abdominal pain, constipation, stool blood, diarrhea, mostly at level 1 to 2 toxicity (33/34, 97.1%). One patient (0.3%) developed frequent diarrhea (>8 times/d), which was level 3 toxicity. Twenty-four months after all treatments, the incidence of chronic radiation rectal injury was 9.6% (24/250), which was not decreased significantly compared to that in the previous period (χ(2)=0.008, P=0.927). The symotoms of one patient with level 3 toxicity was not relieved. Conclusions: The common symptoms of patients with pelvic maligant tumors during postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy include nausea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain and diarrhea. These symptoms are alleviated obviously at 12 and 24 months after adjuvant radiotherapy, and the QoL is significantly improved. However, a few patients may develop chronic radiation rectal injury which is not improved for years or even decades, and deserves attention in clinical practice.

Prenatal diagnosis of two cases with 2p15-p16.1 microdeletion syndrome / 中华医学遗传学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To detect chromosomal aberrations in two fetuses with multiple malformation.@*METHODS@#The two fetuses were subjected to chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) by using Affymetrix CytoScan 750K arrays. The results were analyzed by bioinformatic software.@*RESULTS@#CMA analysis suggested that both fetuses harbored pathogenic copy number variations (CNVs) in the 2p15-16.1 region, which ranged from 255 kb to 257 kb and encompassed the XPO1 and USP34 genes.@*CONCLUSION@#Deletion of the chr2 (61 659 957-61 733 075, hg19) encompassing the XPO1 and USP34 genes may underlie the multiple malformations in the two fetuses.

Relationship between the after-school schedule and bone mineral density in middle-school students in Shanghai / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To investigate the relationship between after-school schedule and bone mineral density in middle-school students in Shanghai, to provide a reference for taking targeted measures.@*Methods@#From November 2017 to April 2018，eighteen classes of six middle schools in Shanghai (from urban districts, urban-suburb combined districts and suburban districts, respectively) were selected based on cluster random sampling. In each school, 2-4 classes were further randomly chosen in the 6th grade. Questionnaires were completed by 518 students and their parents, as well as physical examination and bone mineral density assessment.@*Results@#The average time spent on after-school academic learning during weekends was 4.0 (IQR: 2.0, 6.0) h. The Z-score of bone density was 0.3 (IQR: -0.7, 1.0). The smooth curve fit model showed a non-linear relationship between after-school academic learning time during weekends and the Z-scores of bone mineral densities. A two-stage multiple linear regression analysis was further applied according to the fit results, and the results showed that when total afterschool academic learning time <4.5 hours during weekends, the learning time was inversely correlated with the bone density Z-scores (β=-0.11,P=0.01), and when the learning time ≥4.5 hours, there was no significant correlation between the learning time and bone density Z-scores (β=0.02, P=0.65). Parent and student questionnaires showed that there was a non-linear relationship between students’ daily time spent on outdoor sports-related activities and bone density Z-scores. When time spent on the outdoor activities ≥45 minutes per day, outdoor activities were positively correlated with bone density Z-scores (P<0.05). However, when the time spent on outdoor activities <45 minutes per day, there was no significant relationship between outdoor activities and bone density Z-scores (P>0.05).@*Conclusion@#Too much time on after-school academic learning during weekends or limited time on outdoor activities are both related to impaired bone mineral densities. Therefore, a reasonable after-school schedule for middle-school students is important for physical development, especially during weekends.

The role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the process of adipose-derived stem cells differentiating into neurons / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

Objective To investigate the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the process of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs)differentiating into neurons.Methods The third generation of ADSCs were divided into three groups.Neural induction medium was used in induction group and DDK-1 was added into neural induction medium in inhibition group.Normal culture medium was used in control group.Ten days after culture,Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expressions of NSE,β-catenin and GSK-3βin each group.Results The expressions of NSE and β-catenin were high but the expression of GSK-3 was low in induction group.The expression ofβ-catenin was lower but GSK-3 was higher in inhibition group;the expression of NSE was much lower than that in induction group,but higher than control group.Conclusion The differentiation of ADSCs into neurons is related to activation of Wnt signaling pathway,but Wnt signal pathway is not the only pathway to regulate ADSCs differentiation which may be controlled by different signaling pathways.

The role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the process of adipose-derived stem cells differentiating into neurons / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

Objective To investigate the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the process of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs)differentiating into neurons.Methods The third generation of ADSCs were divided into three groups.Neural induction medium was used in induction group and DDK-1 was added into neural induction medium in inhibition group.Normal culture medium was used in control group.Ten days after culture,Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expressions of NSE,β-catenin and GSK-3βin each group.Results The expressions of NSE and β-catenin were high but the expression of GSK-3 was low in induction group.The expression ofβ-catenin was lower but GSK-3 was higher in inhibition group;the expression of NSE was much lower than that in induction group,but higher than control group.Conclusion The differentiation of ADSCs into neurons is related to activation of Wnt signaling pathway,but Wnt signal pathway is not the only pathway to regulate ADSCs differentiation which may be controlled by different signaling pathways.

Rapid Identification of Alcohol Compounds by Cyclic Chemiluminescence / 分析化学

Rapid discrimination of compounds with similar structures and properties is a hot topic in analytical chemistry. In this study, a cyclic chemiluminescence (CCL) system was designed by using nano-magnesium oxide as catalyst. The effects of reactant concentration, reaction temperature and detection wavelength on CCL analysis were studied. It was found that the CCL signal satisfied the first order exponential decay law. Each reaction had an exponential decay equation (EDE) describing its signal change law. The initial variable A was proportional to the reactant concentration. The decay-coefficient k was a characteristic constant that was independent of the reactant concentration. For iso-butanol, it's A-values versus concentration was linear in 0. 89-14. 24 mg / L, the average of k-value in this range was 32. 0 with a RSD of 2. 2% . Thus, qualitative and quantitative analysis could be conducted according to the A and k values. The system was used to analyze eight kinds of alcohol compounds, and it was found that there were significant differences in the k-values for different alcohols. For example, the k-values for n-butanol, iso-butanol and sec-butanol were 27. 2 ±0. 2, 32. 0±0. 8 and 19. 5±0. 1, respectively.

Association between glutamate receptor 2 polymorphisms and epilepsy in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association between two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs9390754 and rs4840200, in the glutamate receptor 2 (GRIK2) gene and the genetic susceptibility to epilepsy (EP) in the Han population in Central China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A case-control study was performed in 284 EP children (including 132 children with refractory epilepsy) and 315 normal children from Central China. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to determine the genotypes of the two SNPs rs9390754 and rs4840200. The genotype frequency was compared between groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequencies of GG, GA, and AA genotypes of SNP rs9390754 showed a significant difference between the EP and normal control groups (P=0.016). The allele frequency also showed a significant difference between the two groups (P=0.002). The frequencies of CC, CT, and TT genotypes of SNP rs4840200 and allele frequency showed no significant differences between the two groups. The C allele frequency of SNP rs4840200 in the refractory EP subgroup was significantly higher than in the non-refractory EP subgroup (OR=1.435, 95% CI: 1.021-2.016, P=0.037).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In the Han population in Central China, the polymorphisms of SNP rs9390754 in the GRIK2 gene may be associated with EP susceptibility, and the C allele of SNP rs4840200 may be a genetic risk factor for the development of drug resistance in children with EP.</p>

Association of TIAM1 gene polymorphisms with Kawasaki disease and its clinical characteristics / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) rs22833188 and rs2833195 in TIAM1 gene with the susceptibility to Kawasaki disease (KD) and its clinical characteristic in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A case-control study was performed in this study. One hundred and eighty-eight children with KD and 197 normal children served as controls were enrolled. The genotypes of two SNPs rs22833188 and rs2833195 in TIAM1 gene were detected using PCR-RFLP.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no significant differences in the genotype (AA, AG and GG) and allele frequencies of SNP rs2833188 between the KD and control groups. Significant differences in the genotype (CC, GC and GG) frequency of SNP rs2833195 were noted between the KD and control groups (P=0.017). The frequency of C allele in the KD group was higher than in the control group (P=0.015). The polymorphism of SNP rs2833188 was associated with the occurrence of rash (P=0.011), and the polymorphism of SNP rs2833195 was associated with the occurrence of conjunctival hyperemia (P=0.021).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The polymorphism of rs2833195 in TIAM1 gene is associated with the susceptibility to KD. The polymorphisms rs2833188 and rs2833195 in TIAM1 gene may be associated with some clinical characteristics in children with KD.</p>

An overview on modern research and application potency of Scoparia dulcis / 中草药

Scoparia dulcis is distributed widely all around the world. It is used as a folk medicine with a long history in many countries. S. dulcis is received much more attention in foreign countries, such as Japan and India, than in China. The resource in China is getting less. Combined with the latest reports, this paper reviewed its medicinal history, chemical composition, and pharmacological effects for a better utilization of S. dulicis in China in the future. And the prospect of the application in the medicinal and food field of this herb has been also discussed here.

Investigation of individualized treatment based on sentinel lymph node biopsy for early-stage vulvar ;cancer / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of different surgical approaches on the basis of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in treating early-stage vulvar cancer, and discuss the proper strategy for individualized treatment. Methods The medical charts of patients with early-stage vulvar cancer treated in Sun Yat-sen University between January 2004 and December 2013 were retrospectively collected. A total of 74 patients who received sentinel lymph node(SLN)detection in primary surgery were enrolled (average age 55). The surgical approaches contained SLNB, inguinal lymphadenectomy (IL), and extensive vulvectomy. The SLN were examed on intraoperative frozen sections. The treatment protocols, lymphatic metastasis, postoperative recovery condition, recurrence and survival data were collected and analyzed. Results At least one SLN was successfully detected in 68 (92%,68/74) patients. SLN were positive in 21 patients, of whom 12 (group A) underwent bilateral IL, and 9 (group B) received radiotherapy without performed IL. SLN were negative in 47 patients, of whom 26 (group C) underwent bilateral IL and one of them had a non-SLN metastasis, and 21 (group D) were advised to follow-up. The coincidence of pathological results between frozen and paraffin sections was 100%. The sensitivity and specificity of SLNB for diagnosis of lymph node metastasis were 95% and 100%, respectively. A total of 44 complications happened in patients underwent SLNB and IL (group A and C), including 16 poor wound healing, 14 lymphedema, 8 lymphatic fistulas, 3 phlebothrombosis and 3 infections. There were no complications happened in patients underwent SLNB alone (group B and D), among whom the operation time, bleeding amount, and hospital stay were also significantly less than those in patients underwent SLNB and IL. The median follow-up time was 41 months and the 3-year overall survival rate was 85% in the whole series. Recurrences were observed in 11 patients and 9 of them died of the tumor with the median survival time of 15 months. In patients with positive SLN (group A and B), the 3-year overall survival rate was 58% with 8 patients died of the disease, including 4 in group A and 4 in group B. In patients with negative SLN (group C and D), the 3-years overall survival rate was 97% with one patient in group D died of the tumor, and significantly higher than that of patients with positive SLN (P=0.003). The 3-year overall survival rate was significantly difference. In univariate analysis by log-rank test showed that, neither in patients with nor without SLN metastasis the prognosis differed with respect to surgical approaches (group A vs B, P=0.709;group C vs D, P=0.253). Univariate analysis by log-rank test showed that, lymph node metastasis, pathological grade, depth of invasion, and tumor location could significantly affected survival (P0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that lymph node metastasis (RR=21.57, 95%CI:2.68-173.10, P=0.002) and tumor location (RR=7.85, 95%CI:1.79-34.50, P=0.024) were the independent factors for overall survival. Conclusions Lymph node metastasis is an independent prognosis factor for patients with early-stage vulvar cancer. SLNB could accurately diagnose the status of lymph nodes and help to decide subsequent treatment. The omissions of IL in patients with negative SLN avoid surgical morbidity and shorten postoperative recovery period without an increased risk of recurrence.

Electrocardiographic Characteristics of Myocardial Infarction Evolution in Rats and ;Intervention of Chinese Herbs with Replenishing Qi and Activating Blood / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To determine the electrocardiographic (ECG) characteristics of myocardial infarction (MI) evolution in rats and the intervention effect of Chinese herbs, and to provide basis for the establishment of the criteria for ECG diagnosis and assessment of drug therapeutic effects of rats MI. Methods Totally 140 male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, replenishing qi group, activating blood group, replenishing qi and activating blood (1∶2) and (2∶1) group as well as Tongxinluo group, each group with 20 rats. The rat MI model was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. The treatment groups were administrered with corresponding drugs by gavage from the first day after operation. The sham operation group and model group were given the same volume of distilled water. The 12-lead ECGs were recorded before, immediately after, 1st and 2nd week after operation respectively. The voltage value of ST segment deviation, the time limit of QRS complex and the number of animals with pathologic Q wave were evaluated for statistical analysis. Results Model group showed the elevation of ST segment, significantly prolonged time limit of QRS complex (P0.05). Thus, we proposed the criterion for the ECG diagnosis of rats MI as well as the criterion for the ECG assessment of drug therapeutic effects of rats MI. Conclusion ECG can overall and sensitively evaluate the evolution and drug therapeutic effects of MI in rats, thus providing a relatively objective and available assessment method for the experimental studies of myocardial ischemic diseases.

Clinical outcome of 31 patients with primary malignant melanoma of the vagina / 부인종양

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics of and prognostic factors for primary malignant melanoma of the vagina. METHODS: Clinical data from 31 patients treated for primary malignant melanoma of the vagina at the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between March 1970 and June 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The median age was 58 years (range, 18 to 73 years), and the main symptoms reported were vaginal bleeding and vaginal discharge. Most tumors were of the nodular type and classified as stage I according to International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging criteria. Surgery was performed on 22 patients, chemotherapy was administered to 7 patients, and immunotherapy was administered to 19 patients. Recurrent tumors developed in 11 patients (35.5%) during a median follow-up period of 20.2 months (range, 1 month to 18 years). The 5-year overall survival rate was 32.3%. Univariate analysis revealed that macroscopic tumor growth and the treatment method significantly affected survival outcome (p=0.039 and p<0.001, respectively), whereas the radicality of surgery did not (p=0.296). Multivariate analysis revealed that macroscopic tumor growth (hazard ratio [HR], 4.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4 to 12.1; p=0.010) and treatment method (HR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.1 to 0.9; p=0.025) were independent prognostic factors for overall survival. CONCLUSION: Patients with primary vaginal melanoma have a poor prognosis. Macroscopic tumor growth and treatment method are prognostic factors for primary malignant melanoma of the vagina.

Change of Capillary Pericapillary Cells in Rats with Myocardial Infarction and Effect of Supplementing Qi and Activating Blood Circulation Herbs / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To observe the change of capillary pericapillary cells in rats with myocardial infarction and the influence of supplementing qi and activating blood circulation herbs, and explore its mechanism of improving myocardial perfusion. Methods The rat model was established by ligaturing the left anterior descending coronary artery. On the base of ECG evaluation, successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into the model group, group treated with supplementing qi and activating blood circulation Chinese medicine (activating blood and supplementing qi group), group treated with Perindopril (Perindopril group), group treated with Tongxinluo Capsules (Tongxinluo group). The sham-operation group was taken as the control. There were totally 5 groups. The model group and the sham-operation group were treated with normal saline. The changes of myocardial capillary density (MCD) and number of pericapillary cells on the 7th, 28th day after medicinal administration were observed. Results On the 7th and 28th day, the MCD decreased significantly and the number of capillary pericapillary cells increased significantly in the model group compared with the sham-operation group (P<0.01). The MCD increased significantly in the activating blood and supplementing qi group, Perindopril group and Tongxinluo group compared with the model group (P<0.01). The number of pericapillary cells decreased significantly in the activating blood and supplementing qi group, Perindopril group and Tongxinluo group compared with the model group (P<0.01). Conclusion The supplementing qi and activating blood circulation herbs can improve regional myocardial blood supply by decreasing the number of pericytes and promoting regeneration of capillary.

Retrospective studies on drug utilization patterns of asthmatics in a Government hospital in Kedah, Malaysia.

Retrospective DUE is the reviewing of drug therapy after the patient has received the medication. Asthma is a common chronic disease in Malaysia. A National Health and Morbidity Survey in 1996 indicated that asthma prevalence in Malaysia was 4.2%. Statistics on the causes of death have noted asthma as one of the 10 principal causes of death (7.3%) in Malaysia. The purpose of the study was to compare drug utilization patterns amongst the asthmat-ics from the past two years (since 2009) in Kedah state. Asthmatics admitted to the hospital in the preceding two years were analyzed by their patient charts. This study focused on both smoker and non smoker asthmatics. It was observed that salbutamol was most commonly prescribed, followed by montelukast and prednisolone. In the combination therapy, the most commonly prescribed was Symbicort, followed by seretide and combivent. Corticoste-roids constituted the most prevalent class, followed by beta-2 agonists, leukotriene modifiers and methylxanthines. The study presented the most recent scenario on drug utilization pattern of asthmatics in Kedah state.

Retrospective studies on drug utilization patterns of asthmatics in a Government hospital in Kedah, Malaysia.

Retrospective DUE is the reviewing of drug therapy after the patient has received the medication. Asthma is a common chronic disease in Malaysia. A National Health and Morbidity Survey in 1996 indicated that asthma prevalence in Malaysia was 4.2%. Statistics on the causes of death have noted asthma as one of the 10 principal causes of death (7.3%) in Malaysia. The purpose of the study was to compare drug utilization patterns amongst the asthmat-ics from the past two years (since 2009) in Kedah state. Asthmatics admitted to the hospital in the preceding two years were analyzed by their patient charts. This study focused on both smoker and non smoker asthmatics. It was observed that salbutamol was most commonly prescribed, followed by montelukast and prednisolone. In the combination therapy, the most commonly prescribed was Symbicort, followed by seretide and combivent. Corticoste-roids constituted the most prevalent class, followed by beta-2 agonists, leukotriene modifiers and methylxanthines. The study presented the most recent scenario on drug utilization pattern of asthmatics in Kedah state.

Enhancing the research on the mechanism of the occurrence and development of retinal neovascularization to prevent and treat retinal neovascularization diseases / 中华眼底病杂志

Retinal neovascularization is a complicated pathophysiological process as a result of imbalance between angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors. Correct understanding of the signaling pathways,exploring the critical factors involved in retinal angiogenesis, looking for new strategies by reconstructing the new vessels are helpful for knowing the mechanism of the occurrence and development of reitnal neovascularization, which would be good for preventing and treating retinal neovascularization diseases.

Effects of Poly I:C in inducing growth inhibition and apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect and mechanism of Poly I:C in inducing growth inhibition and apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SMMC-7721 cells were treated with different doses of Poly I:C for 24, 48, and 72 h, and the cell growth inhibition rate was analyzed with CCK-8 assay. The cell cycle and the apoptosis were analyzed using flow cytometry with Annexin-V and PI staining, and quantitative RT-PCR analysis were used to detect the expression of TLR3, TRIF, and IFN-beta mRNA in cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the cells exposed to Poly I:C at low, moderate, and high doses, the inhibitory rates was the highest in high-dose Poly I:C group, and at a given Poly I:C dose, prolonged exposure resulted in significantly increased cell growth inhibition rate (P<0.05). Flow cytometry showed that Poly I:C induced cell apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner and significantly increased the percentage of G1-phase cells as compared with that in the control group. The mRNA level of TLR3, TRIF, and IFN-beta were also increased following Poly I:C treatment in comparison with the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Poly I:C can induce significant growth inhibition and apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner possibly by causing cell cycle arrest and TLR3 signaling pathway activation that leads to IFN-beta production and cell apoptosis.</p>