Correlation between frail status and lower extremity function in elderly inpatients with hypertension / Correlación entre estado frágil y función muscular de pacientes ancianos hospitalizados con hipertensión

Introduction: the frail status of elderly hypertensive patients easily damages the function of many physiological systems. Objectives: we aimed to investigate the correlation between the frail status and lower extremity function of elderly hospitalized patients with hypertension Methods: a total of 336 eligible subjects were assigned to frail, pre-frail and non-frail groups according to the “Frail” scale. Lower extremity function was assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery including chair-sit-to-stand, three-posture balance and 6-meter gait speed tests. The influences of factors on frailty were evaluated using the Cox multivariate regression analysis. The correlation between frailty score and lower extremity function score was explored by Spearman's analysis. The values of factors for predicting frail status were analyzed by plotting receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: the three groups had similar age, systolic blood pressure, and nutritional, sleepiness and lower extremity function statuses (p < 0.05). Compared with the non-frail group, the lower extremity function score of the frail group was lower (p < 0.05). Age, systolic blood pressure and sleepiness status were the independent risk factors of frailty (p < 0.05), and lower extremity function parameters were independent protective factors (p < 0.05). There were negative correlations between frail status and lower extremity function parameters (p < 0.05). The area under the ROC curve was 0.850, and the optimal cutoff value was 7.80. Lower extremity function had a high value for predicting frail status. Conclusions: lower extremity function is negatively correlated with the frail status of elderly hospitalized patients with hypertension, as a protective factor of frailty, which can be used to predict frail status (AU)

Introducción: el estado frágil de los pacientes hipertensos de edad avanzada daña fácilmente la función de muchos sistemas fisiológicos. Objetivos: nuestro objetivo fue investigar la correlación entre el estado frágil y la función muscular de pacientes ancianos hospitalizados con hipertensión. Métodos: un total de 336 sujetos elegibles fueron asignados a grupos de frágiles, pre-frágiles y no frágiles de acuerdo con la escala de fragilidad. La función muscular se evaluó mediante la batería de rendimiento físico corto, que incluye las pruebas de sentarse y levantarse de una silla, equilibrio de tres posturas y velocidad de marcha de 6 metros. Las influencias de los factores sobre la fragilidad se evaluaron mediante el análisis de regresión multivariante de Cox. La correlación entre el puntaje de fragilidad y el puntaje de función muscular se exploró con el análisis de Spearman. Los valores de los factores para predecir el estado frágil se analizaron mediante el trazado de curvas características de funcionamiento del receptor (ROC). Resultados: los tres grupos tenían edades similares y valores similares de presión arterial sistólica y estado nutricional, somnolencia y función muscular (p < 0,05). En comparación con el grupo no frágil, la puntuación de la función muscular del grupo frágil fue menor (p < 0,05). La edad, la presión arterial sistólica y el estado de somnolencia fueron los factores de riesgo independientes de fragilidad (p < 0,05), y los parámetros de función muscular fueron factores protectores independientes (p < 0,05). Hubo correlaciones negativas entre el estado frágil y los parámetros de la función muscular (p < 0,05). El área bajo la curva ROC fue de 0,850 y el valor de corte óptimo fue de 7,80. La función muscular tuvo un valor alto para predecir el estado frágil (AU)

Protection of subjects' legal rights, welfare and safety in clinical trials of COVID-19 / 中国临床药理学与治疗学

Since December 2019, COVID-19 has been found in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China, which has spread in many countries and regions around the world. A large number of clinical trials have been launched in China aiming to find safe and effective drugs and treatments.The protection of subjects' legal rights, welfare and safety should be superior to the consideration of scientific and social benefits. Therefore, all parties involved in clinical trials should take corresponding measures to protect subjects' legal rights, welfare and safety. This paper discussed about the protection of subjects' legal rights, welfare and safety in clinical trials of COVID-19 from all aspects of the clinical trials, aiming to provide reference for all parties involved in clinical trials and basic ideas for the protection of subjects' legal rights, welfare and safety in clinical trials of emergencies.

Roles of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway in silicon dioxide-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human pulmonary epithelial cells / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of silicon dioxide (SiO₂) on the expression of E-cadherin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and transforming growth factor β₁(TGF-β₁) in human pulmonary epithelial cells (A549) with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and to study the roles of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway in SiO₂-induced EMT in A549 cells in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Alveolar macrophages (AMs) were stimulated with 50 µg/ml SiO₂for 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, or 36 h, and the supernatants were collected to measure the expression of TGF-β₁protein by ELISA. The AM supernatant in which TGF-β₁reached the highest expression (T=18 h) was used as AM-conditioned supernatant. A549 cells were cultured in AM-conditioned supernatant and stimulated with indicated doses of SiO₂(0, 50, 100, and 200 µg/ml) for 48 h. The cell morphological changes were observed using an inverted microscope. The cells were collected at different times, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of E-cadherin, α-SMA, and EGFR were measured by RT-PCR and immunocytofluorescence, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After stimulation by SiO₂, the expression level of TGF-β₁protein at each time point was significantly higher in the presence of AM supernatants than in the absence of AM supernatants (P<0.05). With the action time, the expression level of TGF-β₁protein increased at first and then decreased, and the highest level was reached at 18 h. After exposure to SiO₂, A549 cells exhibited mesenchymal characteristics, such as a spindle shape, pseudopodia change, and fibroblast-like morphology, as observed by inverted microscope, especially in the 200 µg/ml group. With increased concentration of SiO₂, the mRNA and protein expression of E-cadherin was down-regulated gradually, especially in the 200 µg/ml group, whereas the mRNA and protein expression of α-SMA and EGFR was up-regulated gradually, especially in the 200 µg/m1 group. There were significant differences between the SiO₂-treated groups (50, 100, and 200 µg/ml SiO₂) and the control group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>After being stimulated by SiO₂in vitro, AMs have significantly increased expression level of TGF-β₁protein. The AM supernatant together with SiO₂can induce the transition of pulmonary epithelial cells to mesenchymal cells, and its mechanism may be related to the EGFR signaling pathway.</p>

Recent efficacy of uterine artery intervention and systemic intravenous chemotherapy respectively combined with radiotherapy for advanced cervical cancer / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To research the recent efficacy of advanced cervical cancer treated with two different ways of uterine artery intervention and systemic intravenous chemotherapy respectively combined with radiotherapy.Methods Eighty-two patients with stage Ⅱ B-ⅣA cervical cancer confimed by pathology were given systemic intravenous chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy(vein group,S0 cases)and uterine artery intervention chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy(intervention group,32 cases).The therapeutic effect and remission rate of parametrium were compared.Results The total therapeutic effect rate in vein group was 90.0％(45/50),and intervention group was 93.8％(30/32),there was no significant difference between two groups(P ＞ 0.05).The remission rate of parametrium in vein group was 50.0％ (25/50),and intervention group was 75.0％(24/32),there was significant difference between two groups (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The effect of uterine artery intervention chemotherapy for parametrium is better than that of systemic intravenous chemotherapy.

Screen for natural benzylisoquinoline alkaloids against tumor / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To search for natural benzylisoquinoline alkaloids against tumor.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>In this study, taken DNA as target, a method was developed for screening of natural benzylisoquinoline alkaloids against tumor from traditional Chinese medicine by the use of centrifugal ultrafiltration combined with HPLC technology. The anti-tumor activity for the compounds screened was evaluated in vitro.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Nine compounds interacted with DNA were discovered and identified from Macleaya cordata, Chelidonium majus, Coptis chinensis, and the proliferation of four types of human solid cancer cell lines was markedly inhibited by these compounds.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The developed method was considered to be suitable for screening of natural benzylisoquinoline alkaloids against tumor from traditional Chinese medicine.</p>