[The facility design and operation effect of control vehicle emissions hazard in test section of automobile assembly workshop].

The hazard of vehicle emissions mainly come from the four wheel positioning, drum test and vehicle emissions test sections in automobile assembly workshop, which can lead to abnormal hemoglobin and hepatic insufficiency in workers. We researched on preventing toxic gases technologies for the vehicle emissions generated by these three sections, designed the ventilation facilities, and then detected and evaluated the operation effect, thereby improving the working environment, ensuring the occupational health of workers, and providing scientific basis for the control of vehicle emissions hazards.

Use of Radiomics Models in Preoperative Grading of Cerebral Gliomas and Comparison with Three-dimensional Arterial Spin Labelling.

AIMS: To build machine learning-based radiomics models to discriminate between high- (HGGs) and low-grade gliomas (LGGs) and to compare the effectiveness of three-dimensional arterial spin labelling (3D-ASL) to evaluate which is a better method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the magnetic resonance imaging T1WI-enhanced images of 105 patients with gliomas that were pathologically confirmed in our hospital. We divided the patients into a training group and a verification group at a ratio of 8:2; 200 patients from the Brain Tumour Segmentation Challenge 2020 were selected as the test group for image segmentation, feature extraction and screening. We constructed models using multilayer perceptron (MLP), support vector machine, random forest and logistic regression and evaluated their predictive performance. We obtained the mean maximum relative cerebral blood flow (rCBFmax) value from 3D-ASL of 105 patients from the hospital to evaluate its efficacy in discriminating between HGGs and LGGs. RESULTS: In machine learning, the MLP classifier model exhibited the best performance in discriminating between HGGs and LGGs; the areas under the curve obtained by MLP and rCBFmax were 0.968 versus 0.815 (verification group) and 0.981 versus 0.815 (test group), respectively. The machine learning-based MLP classifier model performed better in discriminating between HGGs and LGGs than 3D-ASL. CONCLUSION: In our study, we found that machine learning-based radiomics models and 3D-ASL were valuable in discriminating between HGGs and LGGs and between them, the machine learning-based MLP model had better diagnostic performance.

[Clinical analysis of 5 cases of dermatomyositis complicated with macrophage activation syndrome].

To investigate the clinical and immunological features of dermatomyositis (DM) complicated with macrophage activation syndrome (MAS). The demographic and clinical characteristics of five patients diagnosed with DM complicated with MAS hospitalized in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People ' s Hospital from 2011 to 2021 were collected. The results of clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, immunological features, treatments and prognosis were analyzed and summarized. In this study, five female patients in Peking University People's Hospital with an average age of 63.8 (44.0-83.0) years and an average disease duration of 16.1 (1.5-48.0) months. All the patients had typical DM rash (such as heliotrope sign, V/shawl sign or Gottron's sign/papules). They all had muscle involvement (including myalgia or muscle weakness). Two patients had positive myositis-specific antibodies (MSAs), in which case 1 had anti-TIF1-γ antibody and case 5 had anti-NXP-2 antibody. Four patients had interstitial lung disease except case 3. All of the cases developed MAS in the active stage of DM. Common manifestations of MAS in these five patients included high-grade fever, cytopenia, decreased fibrinogen, elevated ferritin and increased soluble CD25. Case 1 presented with neutropenia (0.6×109 /L), thrombocytopenia (26.0×109 /L), hypofibrinogenemia (0.9 g/L), markedly elevated ferritin (26 331.0 µg/L), decreased NK cell activity. Case 2 had anaemia (hemoglobin 81.0 g/L), thrombocytopenia (55.0×109 /L), hypertriglyceridemia (4.7 mmol/L), hypofibrinogenemia (1.2 g/L), elevated ferritin (>100 000.0 µg/L), hemophagocytosis in bone marrow. Case 3 had anaemia (hemoglobin 88 g/L), decreased fibrinogen (1.9 g/L), increased ferritin (>27 759.0 µg/L), splenomegaly, hemophagocytosis in bone marrow. Case 4 suffered from neutropenia(0.3×109 /L), anaemia(hemoglobin 78 g/L), hypertriglyceridemia (4.2 mmol/L), hypofibrinogenemia (0.9 g/L), increased ferritin (>100 000.0 µg/L), and decreased NK cell activity. Case 5 presented anaemia (hemoglobin 60.0 g/L), thrombocytopenia (67.0×109 /L), hypertriglyceridemia (12.7 mmol/L), decreased fibrinogen (1.1 g/L), and elevated ferritin (>923.0 µg/L). All the patients were treated with methylprednisone pulse therapy (200-500 mg) combined with cyclosporine while case 5 received rituximab after methylprednisone pulses. In addition, case 3 also received the combination of mycophenolate mofetil. Case 1 was given etoposide while case 4 was treated with cyclophosphamide and repeated plasmapheresis at the same time. Moreover, intravenous immunoglobulin was added meantime apart from case 3. The condition of four patients improved significantly, nevertheless case 4 experienced recurred pulmonary symptoms and died of respiratory failure. As for complications about infection, case 2 had bacterial infection with high level procalcitonin (PCT) before MAS treatment and condition was improved after empiric antibacterial therapy. Case 3 had cytomegalovirus DNAemia before diagnosis of MAS and viral titer turned negative after ganciclovir therapy. After treatment of MAS, four patients developed cytomegalovirus DNAemia except case 3, in which case 5 was co-infected with bacteria. To sum, DM complicated with MAS is relatively rare, and its patients are of ten in life-threatening condition. Early detection, treatment and prevention of infection during treatment are critical to improve the prognosis.

[Clinical and immunological characteristics of patients with anti-synthetase syndrome complicated with cardiac involvement].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical and immunological features of cardiac involvement in patients with anti-synthetase syndrome (ASS). METHODS: In the study, 96 patients diagnosed with ASS hospitalized in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital from April 2003 to November 2020 were included. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether they were accompanied with cardiac involvement. Demographic features, clinical characteristics (Gottron's sign/papules, muscle damage, etc.), comorbidities, laboratory indices (creatine kinase, inflammatory indicators, immunoglobulin, complement, lymphocyte subset, autoantibodies, etc.) were collected and the differences between the two groups were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The prevalence of cardiac involvement in the patients with ASS was 25.0% (24/96). The ASS patients complicated with cardiac involvement presented with elevated cardiac troponin I (cTnI, 75.0%, 18/24), pericardial effusion (33.3%, 8/24), reduction of left ventricular function (33.3%, 8/24) and valves regurgitation (33.3%, 8/24). The age of onset of the patients with cardiac involvement was older than that of the patients without cardiac involvement [(54.58±10.58) years vs. (48.47±13.22) years, P=0.043). Arthritis was observed less frequently in the patients with cardiac involvement than those without cardiac involvement (37.5% vs. 61.1%, P=0.044). In addition, rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (54.2% vs. 30.6%, P=0.037) was observed more frequently in the patients with cardiac involvement than those without cardiac involvement. As compared with the ASS patients without cardiac involvement, C-reactive protein (CRP) [(13.55 (8.96, 38.35) mg/L vs. 4.60 (1.37, 17.40) mg/L, P=0.001], and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) [408.0 (255.0, 587.0) U/L vs. 259.5 (189.8, 393.8) U/L, P=0.007] were significantly higher in the patients with cardiac involvement. Anti-Ro-52 antibody was detected more commonly in the ASS patients with cardiac involvement compared with the patients without cardiac involvement (91.7% vs. 69.4%, P=0.029). No significant differences were found in the comorbidities, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), ferritin (Fer), immunoglobulin G (IgG), complement 3 (C3), complement 4 (C4), lymphocyte subset between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Cardiac involvement is common in ASS, mainly manifested as myocardial damage. It is necessary to be aware of cardiac complications in patients with elevated CRP, elevated LDH and positive anti-Ro-52 antibody.

[Clinical and immunological characteristics of 88 cases of overlap myositis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical and immunological characteristics of overlap myositis (OM) patients. METHODS: The data of 368 patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) admitted to Peking University People's Hospital from January 2004 to August 2020 were analyzed retrospectively, including demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics (including fever, Gottron' s sign/papules, Heliotrope rash, V-sign, Shawl sign, Mechanic' s hands, skin ulceration, periungual erythema, subcutaneous calcinosis, dysphagia, myalgia, myasthenia, arthritis, Raynaud' s phenomenon, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension and myocardial involvement), laboratory characteristics, immunological characteristics [including antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factors, myositis-associated autoantibodies (MAAs) and myositis-specific autoantibodies (MSAs)] and survival. The clinical and immunological characteristics and prognostic differences of OM and non-OM were compared. The Kaplan-Meier and Log Rank methods were used to analyze the survival. RESULTS: A total of 368 patients were included. 23.9% (88/368) of IIMs patients were OM patients. Among the 88 OM patients, 85.2% (75/88) of them were female, and the median interval between disease onset and diagnosis was 13.5 months. The incidence of overlapped connective tissue diseases in the OM patients was dermatomyositis (DM) in 60.2%, polymyositis (PM) in 3.4%, immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM) in 2.3% and anti-synthetase syndrome (ASS) in 34.1%. Compared with the non-OM patients, the proportion of the females in the OM patients was higher (85.2% vs. 72.1%, P=0.016), the OM patients had longer disease duration [13.5(4.5, 48.0) months vs. 4.0(2.0, 12.0) months, P < 0.001]. As for clinical characteristics, compared with the non-OM patients, the incidence of V-sign (25.0% vs. 44.6%, P=0.001) and periungual erythema (8.0% vs. 19.6%, P=0.013) were lower; the incidence of Raynaud's phenomenon (14.8% vs. 1.8%, P < 0.001), interstitial pneumonia (88.6% vs. 72.1%, P=0.001), pulmonary hypertension (22.7% vs. 7.5%, P < 0.001) and myocardial involvement (18.2% vs. 9.3%, P=0.033) were higher. As for immunological characteristics, compared with the non-OM patients, the incidence of elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (31.8% vs. 45.0%, P=0.035) was lower and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) (58.0% vs. 44.6%, P=0.037) was higher; the positive rates of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) (85.1% vs. 63.4%, P=0.001) and rheumatoid factors (RF) (40.2% vs. 17.8%, P < 0.001) and anti-Ro-52 (71.6% vs. 56.1%, P=0.038) in serum were higher. There was no significant difference in the survival between the OM patients and non-OM patients. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary hypertension and myocardial involvement were frequently observed in OM.

[Clinical and immunological characteristics of myositis complicated with thromboembolism].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and analyse the clinical and immunological features of patients with myositis complicated with thromboembolism. METHODS: We identified a cohort of 390 myositis patients diagnosed with myositis admitted to People's Hospital of Peking University from 2003 to 2019. The patients were retrospectively enrolled in this investigation. According to the outcome of the color Doppler ultrasound, CT pulmonary angiography, pulmonary ventilation and perfusion scan patients were divided into myositis with and without thromboembolism group. Demographic, clinical (heliotrope rash, Gottron's sign/papules, periungual erythema, skin ulceration, subcutaneous calcinosis, Mechanic's hands, myalgia, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary arterial hypertension), laboratory, immunological [anti-autoantibodies including melanoma differentiation associated gene 5 (anti-MDA5), anti-Mi-2, anti-transcription intermediary factor-1γ (anti-TIF-1γ, anti-nuclear matrix protein 2 (anti-NXP2), anti-small ubiquitin-like modifier activating enzyme (anti-SAE), anti-synthetase], imaging and therapeutic status data of the patients at the diagnosis of myositis with and without thromboembolism were collected and the differences in these data were analyzed. Logistic regressive analysis was used to identify the risk factors of thromboembolism. RESULTS: In the retrospective study, 390 myositis patients were investigated. The mean age of onset was (49.6±13.4) years, male to female ratio was 0.31 :1. Thromboembolism was identified in 4.62% (18/390) of the myositis patients, which was lower than the published reports. Out of 18 patients with thromboembolism, 55.6% (10/18) of them were deep venous thrombosis, followed by cerebral infarction (22.2%, 4/18), pulmonary embolism (11.1%, 2/18), renal artery embolism (5.6%, 1/18) and embolism of upper extremity (5.6%, 1/18). Fifty percent of thromboembolism events occurred 6 months after the diagnosis of myositis, 38.9% of thromboembolism events occurred 6 months within the diagnosis of myositis, 11.1% of thromboembolism events occurred 6 months before the diagnosis of myositis. As compared with the myositis patients without thromboembolism, the myositis patients complicated with thromboembolism were older [(58.3±11.7) years vs. (49.3±13.4) years, P=0.006]. C-reaction protein (CRP) (12.2 mg/L vs. 4.1 mg/L, P < 0.001), ferritin (20 085.5 µg/L vs. 216.6 µg/L, P < 0.001) and D-dimer (529.0 µg/L vs. 268.0 µg/L, P=0.002) were significantly higher in thromboembolism group. Diabetes (44.4% vs. 16.4%, P=0.006), coronary heart disease (22.2% vs. 3.0%, P=0.003) and surgery (16.7% vs. 3.5%, P=0.032) were observed more common in thromboembolism group than those without thromboembolism. Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) (26.9 s vs. 28.7 s, P=0.049) and albumin (32.4 g/L vs. 36.5 g/L, P=0.002) was lower in thromboembolism group. The risk factors of thromboembolism in the myositis patients were low level of albumin (OR=0.831, 95%CI: 0.736-0.939, P=0.003), diabetes (OR=4.468, 95%CI: 1.382-14.448, P=0.012), and coronary heart disease (OR=22.079, 95%CI: 3.589-135.837, P=0.001) were independent significant risk factors for thromboembolism in the patients with myositis. There was no significant difference in clinical manifestations, myositis-specific antibodies or myositis-associated antibodies between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Thromboembolism is a complication of myositis. Lower levels of albumin, diabetes, and coronary heart disease might be risk factors of thromboembolism in myositis patients.

MiR-146a-5p inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells by regulating NF-κB signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the function and potential mechanism of micro ribonucleic acid (miR)-146a-5p in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of miR-146a-5p in OSCC tissues and cell lines was examined by quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. Then, the role of miR-146a-5p in proliferation was analyzed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Besides, the proliferation and apoptosis of OSCC cells were detected by the colony formation assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Finally, the regulatory effect of miR-146a-5p/nuclear factor-kappa B subunit 1 (NF-κB1) was determined by Western blotting assay and Luciferase reporter assay system. RESULTS: The expression of miR-146a-5p was markedly upregulated in OSCC cell lines. In addition, the silence of miR-146a-5p inhibited the proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of OSCC cells. According to the results of the Western blotting analysis and Luciferase reporter gene assay, NF-κB1 was identified as a direct target of miR-146a-5p. Moreover, the downregulation of NF-κB1 restored the inhibitory effect of silenced miR-146a-5p on the proliferation of SCC-9 cells. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-146a-5p can inhibit the proliferation and accelerate the apoptosis of OSCC cells by directly targeting NF-κB1, and it plays a carcinogenic role in OSCC.

LINC00511 promotes the progression of non-small cell lung cancer through downregulating LATS2 and KLF2 by binding to EZH2 and LSD1.

OBJECTIVE: Lung cancer is a malignant tumor with extremely high morbidity and mortality. Recent studies have identified the vital role of LINC00511 (lncRNAs) in the development and progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this research, we aim to explore the biological function of LINC00511 in the development and metastasis of NSCLC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: LINC00511 expression in 57 paired NSCLC patients' tissues and matched normal tissues were detected by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Cell proliferation assay, colony formation assay and transwell assay were conducted to observe the biological behavior changes of NSCLC cells through the influence of LINC00511. In addition, dual-luciferase reporter gene assay, RNA immunoprecipitation assay (RIP) and, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) were performed to discover the potential targets of LINC00511 in NSCLC cells. RESULTS: LINC00511 was highly expressed in NSCLC tissues and cell lines compared with controls. LINC00511 expression was positively correlated with tumor size, tumor stage, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis, but negatively correlated with overall survival (OS) of NSCLC patients. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves suggested that LINC00511 could be an effective indicator to distinguish NSCLC patients from normal people. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), flow cytometry and transwell assay showed that knockdown of LINC00511 in A549 cells decreased viability, accelerated apoptosis and inhibited invasive and migratory abilities. Overexpression of LINC00511 in PC9 cells obtained the opposite biological effects. Chromatin fractionation predicted that LINC00511 was mainly distributed in the nucleus. RIP and ChIP assay showed that LINC00551 directly bound to lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) and enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2). It inhibited expressions of LATS2 and KLF2 by binding to their promoter regions. CONCLUSIONS: LINC00511 is upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. It is closely related to tumor size, tumor stage, lymph node metastasis and, distant metastasis of NSCLC patients. Knockdown of LINC00511 attenuates proliferative, migratory and invasive capacities, but induces apoptosis of NSCLC cells. LATS2 and KLF2 are target genes of LINC00511, which are regulated by LINC00511 through binding to EZH2 and LSD1, thus influencing the progression of NSCLC.

Characterizing Ni(II) hydration in aqueous solution using DFT and EXAFS.

In the present work, a detailed investigation of Ni(II) hydration in water solutions was carried out using density functional theory (DFT) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. The hydrated characteristics of [Ni(H2O)n](2+) clusters, such as energy parameters, atomic charge distributions, and bond parameters, were explored using DFT with Becke's three-parameter exchange potential and the Lee-Yang-Parr correlation functional (B3LYP). DFT calculations indicated that the preferred structure of the first hydration shell of Ni(II) generally has a coordination number of six and is almost unaffected by the water molecules in the outer solvation shell, whereas the structure of the second solvation shell varies as the hydration proceeds. EXAFS measurements are reported for aqueous NiSO4 and Ni(NO3)2 solutions and the Ni(NO3)2·6H2O crystal. Analysis of the EXAFS spectra of these three systems using a multiparameter fitting procedure showed that, in each case, the first coordination shell consists of six water molecules with a Ni-O coordination distance of 2.04 Å, and that there is no Ni-S or Ni-N coordination in the first shell. There was no evidence of outer-shell SO4(2-) or NO3(-) ions substituting inner-sphere water molecules in NiSO4 and Ni(NO3)2. The characteristics of Ni(II) hydration obtained from DFT calculations agreed well with those obtained experimentally using EXAFS.

Effect of Rhizoma paridis total saponins on apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells and imbalance of the JAK/STAT3 molecular pathway induced by IL-6 suppression.

We observed the influence of different concentrations of Rhizoma paridis total saponins (RPTS) on the apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells and explored the internal mechanism involved. We determined whether RPTS influences the interleukin-6 (IL-6)/Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) apoptosis molecular pathway and looked for colon cancer-related signal transduction pathways or targets inducing apoptosis. We also cultured SW480 colorectal cancer cells using different concentrations of RPTS (10, 20, 40, and 80 µg/ mL), and observed the effect of RPTS on SW480 cell morphology under a fluorescence inverted microscope. We detected serum IL-6 using the polymerase chain reaction and the expression of JAK-STAT3 protein by western blot. After treating SW480 with RPTS and Hoechst 33258 dyeing, we found that the typical apoptosis morphology had changed. Secretion of IL-6 in the serum decreased significantly (P < 0.05), and STAT3 levels were reduced. RPTS can significantly promote apoptosis in SW480 colorectal cancer cells. The mechanism may be that it suppresses the secretion of IL-6 and inhibits the IL-6/JAK-STAT3 protein signaling pathway.

A new route of transendocardial stem cell injection: from femoral vein to left ventricle through atrial septa.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of a new route of transendocardial stem cell injection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Atrial septal puncture was performed in six young male pigs, and then a 6F syringe was passed through the puncture to reach the left atrium. Meanwhile, a guide wire was inserted into the left ventricle through the femoral artery, and echocardiography was used to confirm the relative position of the guide wire with the syringe. RESULTS: After atrial puncture through femoral vein, the syringe could reach the left atrium and finally the left ventricle. Echocardiography confirmed that both the guide wire and the syringe were located in the left ventricle. The diameter of atrial septa puncture and the diameter of the syringe implantation were 4.1 ± 0.5 mm and 8.4 ± 0.7 mm, respectively. But there is no difference in Left ventricle end-systolic dimension (LVES), left ventricle end-diastolic dimension (LVED) and left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) before surgery, after atrial septa puncture, after syringe implantation or one month after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible to perform transendocardial stem cell injection by 6F syringe inserted through femoral vein. The surgery may cause atrial septa tearing but does not jeopardize myocardial function.

Comparing different methods of assessing body composition in end-stage renal failure.

BACKGROUND: Accurate measurement of nutritional status in patients with end-stage renal disease is important because of its clear association with prognosis. Total body water (TBW) has additionally been recently recognized as an independent prognostic value because of its relationship with hypertension and cardiac morbidity. The current study was designed to assess the utility of surrogate markers of nutritional state and TBW in patients with end-stage renal disease. METHODS: Fifty-four patients with renal disease were studied. TBW obtained using the deuterium dilution technique was compared with estimates derived from anthropometric measures of TBW, including 58% body weight, Watson equations, and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Anthropometrically derived fat-free mass (FFM) was compared with BIA-derived estimates. Total body nitrogen (TBN) measurements were correlated with TBW estimates and BIA-derived resistance. RESULTS: TBW was significantly underestimated by the Watson equation (mean difference, -1.751 L, P = 0.01) and the 58% body weight approximation significantly overestimated it (mean difference, 1.792 L, P = 0.04). The Kushner BIA estimation of TBW did not significantly differ from that of the gold standard determined from D2O dilution (mean difference, -1.221 L, P = 0.12) and was also the method that showed the best agreement with the D2O estimate. However, the limits of agreement were large. Accurate prediction equations for FFM (FFM = -21.768 + 0.001 x ht2 + 6630.669 x 1/R + 0.312 x wt, R2 = 0.95) and TBN (TBN = -668.324 - 3.963 x age + 10.133 x wt + 0. 045 x ht2 + 32141.457 x 1/R, R2 = 0.91) were derived from BIA obtained resistance. CONCLUSIONS: The estimation of TBW varies significantly depending on the method of calculation. BIA is the most accurate surrogate marker for the measurement of both TBW and other parameters of body composition.

Protein intake in renal disease.

The dietary protein intake (DPI) of 766 patients (aged 7 to 88 yr) was determined from 24-h urinary urea and protein excretion by urea kinetic modelling. Five hundred sixty-five patients had a normal serum creatinine concentration, and of these 565, 385 patients had no dietary modification advised and 180 were advised to follow a low-protein diet. The remaining 201 patients had an increased serum creatinine concentration; 148 of these 201 patients had been advised to restrict their DPI. Patients with a normal serum creatinine concentration who had no dietary restriction had a significantly higher DPI than those advised to restrict their protein intake (1.08 +/- 0.01 versus 0.96 +/- 0.02 g/kg per day (mean +/- SEM), P < 0.01). Similarly, patients with abnormal renal function who were advised to follow a low-protein diet had a reduced DPI (0.93 +/- 0.01 versus 0.87 +/- 0.02 g/kg per day; P < 0.05). A lower DPI correlated with level of renal dysfunction, independent of dietary advice (P < 0.0001). In the overall population, DPI correlated with body mass index (BMI; P < 0.0001) and serum albumin (P < 0.0001), and inverse correlations were evident between age (P < 0.0001), blood glucose level (P < 0.01), serum cholesterol level (P < 0.0001), and triglyceride levels (P < 0.0001) independently of renal function. Fifty-two patients were assessed within the 3 months before the commencement of dialysis, and 47 were reassessed within 3 months after the commencement of dialysis. Despite advice regarding an increase in dietary protein after the commencement of dialysis, this increase failed to occur within the 3 months of commencement of dialytic therapy (0.79 +/- 0.04 versus 0.82 +/- 0.03 g/kg per day); P = 0.64). However, 6 to 9 months after the commencement of dialysis, a significant increase in protein intake was evident (1.04 +/- 0.04 g/kg per day; P < 0.005 versus both prior measurements). Hence a low DPI in renal impairment occurs independently of dietary advice, but compliance with such advice is evident because patients advised to consume a low-protein diet had significantly lower protein intake than did patients receiving no dietary advice. Adaptation to a high-protein diet after instigation of dialysis is unsuccessful in the short term, irrespective of whether or not advice is given regarding a low-protein diet before dialysis is initiated. However, 6 to 9 months after the commencement of dialysis, a significant increase in protein intake occurs, which in the hemodialysis population correlates with dialysis delivery.

[Effects of compatible using of fructurs Evodiae on the main chemical components of rhizoma Coptidis].

The results of experimental studies on the compatible using of Fructus Evodiae with Rhizoma Coptidis show that in the decoction of the two drugs there is an additive property for the chemical constituents and no new chemical substances were found. But the decocting rate of berberine, the main constituent of Rhizoma Coptidis, decreases by 37.0% after decocting with Fructus Evodiae.