Chemical composition and pharmacological activity of seco-prezizaane-type sesquiterpenes / 中草药·英文版

The seco-prezizaane-type sesquiterpenes (SPS), as a special class of sesquiterpenes with a highly oxidative five-ring cage structure and seven consecutive chiral centers, are isolated from the genus Illicium, which have a variety of biological activities, including neurotoxicity and neurotrophic effects, etc. This review summarizes the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of SPS, and discusses the potential trend and scope of future research.

Reform practice of PBL teaching model in organ system integrated course / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Problem-based learning (PBL), which originated in foreign countries, advocates the core idea of multidisciplinary integrated learning, which coincides with the trend of curriculum integration in current medical education. First, this article systematically introduces the process of PBL in the organ system integrated course which is conducted in Nanshan College of Guangzhou Medical University. Second, this article discusses the teaching results and reflection so as to provide reference for the continuous localization reformation of PBL and further medical curriculum integration in college and university.

The contribution of FEV1 and airflow limitation on the intensity of dyspnea and leg effort during exercise. Insights from a real-world cohort.

RATIONALE: The effort required to cycle and breathe intensify as power increases during incremental exercise. It is currently unclear how changes in FEV1 in the presence or absence of airflow limitation) impacts the intensity of dyspnea and leg effort. This is clinically important as the improvement in FEV1 is often the target for improving dyspnea. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between dyspnea (D), leg effort, power (P), and FEV1 with and without airflow limitation using direct psychophysical scaling performed during incremental exercise testing to symptom limited capacity. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of consecutive patients over the age of 35 referred for cardio-pulmonary exercise testing at McMaster University Medical Centre from 1988-2012.The modified Borg scale was used to measure dyspnea throughout incremental exercise testing. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: 38,788 patients were included in the analysis [Mean Age 58.6 years (SD ±11.8), Males 61%, BMI 28.1 kg/m2 (SD ±5.1), FEV1 was 2.7 L (SD ±0.85), 95% predicted (SD ±20.4), FVC 3.4 L (SD ± 1.0), 94% predicted (SD ±17.0)], and 10.9% had airflow limitation (AL, FEV1 /FVC < 70%). In a nonlinear regression analysis, the intensity of dyspnea increased in a positively accelerating manner with power and as the FEV1 % predicted decreased: Dyspnea = 0.06 * Power1.03  * FEV1 %Pred-0.66 (r = .63). The intensity of leg effort increased with power and declining quadricep strength and FEV1% predicted: Leg Effort = 0.06 * Power1.22  * Quad-0.56 *FEV1 %Pred-0.39 (r = .73). There was no independent effect of AL on dyspnea of leg effort. CONCLUSION: Power, quadriceps strength and FEV1 are the dominant factors contributing to dyspnea and leg effort, irrespective of the degree of airflow limitation.

Application of modified double-lumen microcatheter in the measurement of fractional flow reserve in coronary bifurcation lesions / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective:To analyze the safety and effectiveness of application of modified double-lumen microcatheter in the measurement of fractional flow reserve(FFR) in coronary bifurcation lesions.Methods:Total of 28 patients with coronary bifurcation lesions in two centers were divided into two groups:conventional technique group(CON) and novel technique group(NOV). The fluoroscopy time, contrast dye usage and FFR-related complications of the two groups were analyzed retrospectively.Results:There were 16 cases in CON group and 12 cases in NOV group. The median time required fluoroscopy in NOV group was significantly less than that in CON group; additionally, lesser amounts of contrast dye were used in NOV group (both P<0.05). The NOV group procedures were successfully accomplished in all cases without complications, such as damage of the pressure sensor, SB spasm or dissection. However, The CON group failed in three patients, including two who experienced coronary artery spasms( P>0.05). Conclusions:Limited experience suggests that the application of modified double-lumen microcatheter in the jailed SB FFR measurement after MV stenting is a safe and technically feasible approach.

Responsiveness of Nasal Provocation Testing-But Not Skin Test and Specific Immunoglobulin E Blood Level-Correlates With Severity of Allergic Rhinitis in Dermatophagoides Species-Sensitized Patients.

Background The results of skin and blood allergen testing are not consistently relevant to clinical manifestations in allergic patients. Objective The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between severity of allergic rhinitis and different allergen diagnostic tests in Dermatophagoides species-sensitized patients. Methods Study subjects included 65 rhinitis patients-50 with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP) sensitization (DP+) and 15 without DP sensitization (DP-), and 15 DP+ and 37 DP- healthy controls (HCs) confirmed by allergen skin prick (SPT) and blood specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) tests. The Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) was tested. All subjects underwent DP nasal provocation test (DP-NPT). Visual analogue scoring (VAS) of nasal symptoms and nasal airway resistance (NAR) were measured before and after NPT. Correlations between the 3 allergen tests and score of RQLQ were performed. Results All rhinitis subjects had significantly higher VAS and NAR after DP-NPT than HCs ( P < .01). All DP+ rhinitis, 40% of DP- rhinitis subjects, 13.3% of DP+ HCs and 0% of DP- HCs had positive DP-NPT. Dose of positive DP-NPT positively correlated with SPT diameter and sIgE level in all tested subjects ( P < .001). Score of RQLQ positively correlated with dose of DP-NPT ( P < .001), but not with SPT diameter and sIgE level in rhinitis patients. Conclusion Although DP nasal provocation, skin prick wheal size and blood sIgE level correlate with each other, only nasal provocation testing is associated with severity of nasal symptoms. It is suggested that NPT should be performed to verify a clinically relevant allergy.

Correlations of nasal responses to leukotriene D4 and histamine nasal provocation with quality of life in allergic rhinitis

BACKGROUND: The symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR) greatly affect the quality of life (QoL) in the patients with AR. The correlations of nasal response to leukotriene D4 (LTD4) and histamine nasal provocation with health related QoL in AR are not clear. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlations of nasal response to LTD4 and histamine nasal challenge with QoL in AR. METHODS: Patients randomly underwent LTD4 and histamine nasal challenge tests, completed the rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQoLQ), and rating the symptom severity score (total symptom score 4, TSS4) in the previous week. The correlations between nasal challenge tests induced nasal responses and QoL in RQoLQ were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 25 eligible AR patients enrolled and finished both LTD4 and histamine nasal challenge and completed the questionnaire of RQoLQ. Histamine nasal challenge induced sneezing, increased nasal resistant were correlated with most of the dimensions (general, practical, nasal, eye problems, and quality of sleep, p < 0.05), while LTD4 nasal challenge induced sneeze, increased nasal resistant only correlated with nasal and ocular problems. On the contrary, the severity of the sneeze assessed by TSS4, was not correlated with QoL, while the severity of rhinorrhea, congestion, and nasal pruritus were correlated with nasal and practical problems, and nasal congestion was also correlated with ocular problems (r = 0.60, p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: LTD4 and histamine nasal challenge induced nasal responses were correlated with different clinical symptoms severity and QoL, which can be used as a good diagnosis and evaluation methods for the management of AR.