Objective To compare the characteristics of food and nutrition intake in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with or without carotid atherosclerosis and analyze the relationship between diets/C-reactive protein (CRP) and carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT). Methods Sixty patients with T2DM were enrolled and divided into two groups based on C-IMT: group A (C-IMT ＜ 1 mm, n=30) and group B (C-IMT≥1 mm, n=30). All subjects were investigated with questionnaires including 3-day food recall They all took somatometric measurement. Blood and urine samples were collected in all subjects to examine the levels of high sensitive-CRP,C-peptide, blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, blood lipid, renal function, urine microalbumin, and other indicators. Results The intakes of vegetables, fruits, and aquatic products were significantly higher in group A than in group B ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). The intake of vitamin C in group A was significantly higher than that in group B ( P ＜0. 05 ). The levels of CRP in group B was significant higher than that in group A (P = 0. 000). Positive correlation was found between CRP level and C-IMT in T2DM patients ( r = 0. 36, P = 0. 004). Furthermore, CRP was negatively correlated with the intakes of vegetables and fruits ( r = - 0. 334, P = 0. 01 ), aquatic products ( r = -0. 315, P = 0. 016), and vitamin C ( r = - 0. 2786, P = 0. 038 ), respectively. The intake of fruits was negatively correlated with C-IMT (r, = -0. 33, P = 0. 01 ). Conclusions T2DM patients without carotid atherosclerosis intake more vegetables, fruits, aquatic products and vitamin C than those with atherosclerosis. Vegetables, fruits,sea foods and vitamin C may be the protective factors against atherosclerosis in T2DM patients. CRP is associated with the development of atherosclerosis in T2DM patients.

OBJECTIVE:To establish the quality standard for Cangbai qutong capsule. METHODS:TLC was conducted to iden-tify the Rhizoma atractylodis,Asarum sieboldii,Paeoniae Radix Rubra and Cortex phellodendri;RP-HPLC was conducted to deter-mine the content of berberine hydrochloride. The column was Waters Symmetry-C18 with mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.1% phos-phoric acid (gradient elution) at flow rate of 1.0 ml/min,the detection wavelength was 265 nm,column temperature was 30 ℃, and the injection volume was 10 μl. RESULTS:TLC showed R. atractylodis,A. sieboldii,Paeoniae Radix Rubra and C. phelloden-dri had clear spots and good separation. The linear range of berberine hydrochloride was 21.12-84.48 μg/ml(r=0.999 6);RSDs of pre-cision,stability and reproducibility tests were lower than 3%;recovery was 96.439%-100.950%(RSD=1.34%,n=9). CONCLU-SIONS:The method is simple and reproducible,and can be used for the quality standards of Cangbai qutong capsule.

In this study, the effect of heparin-derived oligosaccharide (HDO) on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) induced vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation and the related signal transduction mechanisms were investigated. MTT assays were used to measure VSMCs proliferation. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry. The level of key regulatory proteins in PKC, MAPK and Akt/PI3K pathways were determined by RT-PCR, Western blot and immunocytochemical methods. Meanwhile, mRNA expressions of some proto-oncogenes were assayed by RT-PCR method. Our data showed that HDO (0.01, 0.1 and 1 μmol · L(-1)) inhibited 30 ng · mL(-1) PDGF-induced VSMCs proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, blocked the G1/S transition and inhibited the level of key regulatory proteins and some proto-oncogenes (P < 0.05). The results showed that HDO may decrease the key regulatory proteins expression, hence suppress the transcription of proto-oncogene and G1/S transition, finally inhibiting VSMCs proliferation.

BACKGROUND:It is notable to treat cervical spondylosis using the anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, but there are such complications as cervical instability and low fusion rate. Titanium plate with cage can solve those defects, while anterior unfamiliar matter and dysphagia appear. A new anterior cervical interbody fusionZero-Pwith support and fixation function has been widely used in clinic.
OBJECTIVE:To analyze early stability in repairing cervical spondylosis using a newZero-Pinterbody fixation and fusion system, and compare with a titanium plate with cage interbody fixation andfusion system.
METHODS:We retrospectively analyzed the clinical date of 31 patients with cervical spondylosis who underwent the anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in the Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University between August 2010 and August 2014. Fifteen patients were treated with aZero-P implant (Zero-Pgroup) and sixteen patients with a titanium plate with cage (cage group). We recorded operation time, intraoperative blood loss, preoperative and postoperative Visual Analogue Scale scores and Japanese Orthopedic Association scores, postoperative incidence of dysphagia and degeneration rate of adjacent joint.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Postoperative symptoms were apparently improved, without severe complications in both groups. (2) Operation time and intraoperative blood loss were better in theZero-P group than in the cage group (P< 0.05). (3) Postoperative Visual Analogue Scale scores and Japanese Orthopedic Association scores were significantly improved in both groups (P< 0.05). The recovery rate of Japanese Orthopedic Association scores was similar between the two groups (81%, 81%;P> 0.05). (4) Mild dysphagia was experienced by one case (7%) in theZero-Pgroup, but nine cases (44%) in the cage group. Significant difference in the incidence of dysphagia was detected between the two groups after treatment (P=0.037). However, no significant difference in degeneration rate was detectable between the two groups (P=0.48). (5) These findings verify that in the anteriorcervical discectomy and fusion, the new Zero-Pand titanium plate with cage interbody fixation and fusion system are effective choices for cervical spondylosis. However, theZero-Pinterbody fixation and fusion system showed a low incidence of postoperative dysphagia and better stability.

BACKGROUND:Once lumbar degenerative diseases merge with lumbar spinal stenosis, lumbar instability and degenerative scoliosis, surgical therapy is required for corresponding clinical symptoms, and the usage of internal fixators cannot be inevitable. Osteoporosis is rather common in the elderly. Therefore, how to implant stable pedicle screw fixation system in serious osteoporosis patients wil be a big difficulty. In recent years, some studies have proven the biomechanical stability of polymethylmethacrylate augmentation of a cannulated and fenestrated pedicle screw in the vertebral body, so it becomes very hot in the spine surgery. OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical efficacy of the use of polymethylmethacrylate augmentation of a cannulated and fenestrated pedicle screw fixation for the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease accompanied with osteoporosis. METHODS:Thirty-one patients with lumbar degenerative disease accompanied with osteoporosis from Jun 2008 to Jan 2013 were selected, including 11 males and 20 females with an average age of 73.5 years (range, 65-86 years). There were 14 cases of lumbar degenerative stenosis, 9 of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation combined with segmental instability, 6 of lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis, and 2 of lumbar degenerative scoliosis. The patients were treated with lumbar canal decompression, fusion and polymethylmethacrylate augmentation of a cannulated and fenestrated pedicle screw fixation according to their clinical features and imaging data. Visual analog scale for pain evaluation was used before and after fixation, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scale was used for assessment of neurological function and life skils before internal fixation and during folow-up. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Al cases were folowed up for 40 months (range, 36-48months). No screw breakage, rod breakage, screw extraction, loosening, pseudoarticulation formation, or incision infection was found. The postoperative visual analog scale score and the JOA score was remarkably improved (P < 0.05). For patients suffering from lumbar degenerative disease accompanied with osteoporosis, polymethylmethacrylate augmentation of a cannulated and fenestrated pedicle screw fixation is helpful for increasing the stabilization of screw and preventing from loosening and dislocation of the screws, and thereby beneficial for improvement and maintenance of clinical efficacy.

Objective:To investigate the regulatory mechanism and clinical significance of RASSF5 in cutaneous melanoma.Methods:We used GEPIA and HPA online tools and TCGA and GSE53118 data sets for differential expression analysis and prognosis analysis; cBioPortal was applied to analyze the correlation between RASSF5 expression and gene mutation and methylation; "limma" R package was used to screen differential genes for GO analysis, KEGG analysis and protein-protein interaction analysis, and we also performed GSEA analysis on all genes; finally we used ESTIMATE and CIBERSORTx online tools to evaluate immune cell infiltration. The kruskal test was used to compare the differences between the groups for measurement data, the Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw the survival curve, and the Cox proportional hazard regression model was used for univariate and multivariate analysis.Results:This study found that in cutaneous melanoma, the expression level of RASSF5 was significantly lower than that of normal tissues, and the methylation level was negatively correlated. KEGG analysis and GSEA analysis showed that RASSF5 can be related to multiple signaling pathways such as immune regulation, KRAS, and P53. Further analysis showed that the expression level of RASSF5 was positively correlated with the degree of infiltration of a variety of tumor immune cells. Survival analysis found that the expression level of RASSF5 was correlated with the overall survival rate of patients with cutaneous melanoma, and multivariate regression analysis found that RASSF5 was an independent predictor of cutaneous melanoma. Finally, using the GSE53118 dataset to verify again, RASSF5 is related to the overall survival rate of patients with cutaneous melanoma and can be used as an independent predictor.Conclusions:RASSF5 may regulate the occurrence and development of cutaneous melanoma cells through a variety of ways. It is a potential biological prognostic marker and therapeutic target.

Objective:To investigate the regulatory mechanism and clinical significance of RASSF5 in cutaneous melanoma.Methods:We used GEPIA and HPA online tools and TCGA and GSE53118 data sets for differential expression analysis and prognosis analysis; cBioPortal was applied to analyze the correlation between RASSF5 expression and gene mutation and methylation; "limma" R package was used to screen differential genes for GO analysis, KEGG analysis and protein-protein interaction analysis, and we also performed GSEA analysis on all genes; finally we used ESTIMATE and CIBERSORTx online tools to evaluate immune cell infiltration. The kruskal test was used to compare the differences between the groups for measurement data, the Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw the survival curve, and the Cox proportional hazard regression model was used for univariate and multivariate analysis.Results:This study found that in cutaneous melanoma, the expression level of RASSF5 was significantly lower than that of normal tissues, and the methylation level was negatively correlated. KEGG analysis and GSEA analysis showed that RASSF5 can be related to multiple signaling pathways such as immune regulation, KRAS, and P53. Further analysis showed that the expression level of RASSF5 was positively correlated with the degree of infiltration of a variety of tumor immune cells. Survival analysis found that the expression level of RASSF5 was correlated with the overall survival rate of patients with cutaneous melanoma, and multivariate regression analysis found that RASSF5 was an independent predictor of cutaneous melanoma. Finally, using the GSE53118 dataset to verify again, RASSF5 is related to the overall survival rate of patients with cutaneous melanoma and can be used as an independent predictor.Conclusions:RASSF5 may regulate the occurrence and development of cutaneous melanoma cells through a variety of ways. It is a potential biological prognostic marker and therapeutic target.

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of sacubitril valsartan in the treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM)in children.Methods A total of 19 hospitalized children with DCM were retrospectively selected as study subjects.All patients received captopril combined with conventional anti-heart failure therapy for 1 to 4 weeks,but due to ineffective treatment,they were switched to treatment of sacubitril valsartan.Clinical data,biochemical indicators,and echocardio-graphic findings were collected to assess changes in clinical symptoms and related indicators after 1-,3-,6-,and 12-month sacubitril valsartan treatment.Information on the dosage and administration of sacubitril valsartan,as well as the occurrence of adverse reactions was collected.Results Among 19 patients,there were 8 males and 11 females,with a median age of 3 years.Heart function was classi-fied as grade Ⅱ in 2 patients,grade Ⅲ in 10 patients,and grade Ⅳ in 7 patients.At the final fol-low-up,the efficacy assessment showed significant improvement in 8 patients,effective improvement in 6 patients,and no improvement in 5 patients,with a total effective rate of 73.7％.After 1-,3-,6-,and 12-month sacubitril valsartan treatment,the levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic pep-tide(NT-proBNP)were lower,left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)was higher,and left ventricu-lar diastolic diameter(LVDd)-Z value was smaller compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05).The initial single dose of sacubitril valsartan was 0.8 mg/kg,and the average maintenance dose was 1.7 mg/kg,administered twice daily.After treatment,1 patient developed hypotension,and 5 patients exhibited mild abnormalities in renal function indicators(of which 4 recovered to normal levels after tolerance).Conclusion Sacubitril valsartan can effectively improve heart failure symptoms and cardiac function indicators in children with DCM,but close monitoring of blood pressure and renal function changes is required during treatment.

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of sacubitril valsartan in the treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM)in children.Methods A total of 19 hospitalized children with DCM were retrospectively selected as study subjects.All patients received captopril combined with conventional anti-heart failure therapy for 1 to 4 weeks,but due to ineffective treatment,they were switched to treatment of sacubitril valsartan.Clinical data,biochemical indicators,and echocardio-graphic findings were collected to assess changes in clinical symptoms and related indicators after 1-,3-,6-,and 12-month sacubitril valsartan treatment.Information on the dosage and administration of sacubitril valsartan,as well as the occurrence of adverse reactions was collected.Results Among 19 patients,there were 8 males and 11 females,with a median age of 3 years.Heart function was classi-fied as grade Ⅱ in 2 patients,grade Ⅲ in 10 patients,and grade Ⅳ in 7 patients.At the final fol-low-up,the efficacy assessment showed significant improvement in 8 patients,effective improvement in 6 patients,and no improvement in 5 patients,with a total effective rate of 73.7％.After 1-,3-,6-,and 12-month sacubitril valsartan treatment,the levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic pep-tide(NT-proBNP)were lower,left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)was higher,and left ventricu-lar diastolic diameter(LVDd)-Z value was smaller compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05).The initial single dose of sacubitril valsartan was 0.8 mg/kg,and the average maintenance dose was 1.7 mg/kg,administered twice daily.After treatment,1 patient developed hypotension,and 5 patients exhibited mild abnormalities in renal function indicators(of which 4 recovered to normal levels after tolerance).Conclusion Sacubitril valsartan can effectively improve heart failure symptoms and cardiac function indicators in children with DCM,but close monitoring of blood pressure and renal function changes is required during treatment.