Objective To apply the optical coherence tomography(OCT) to detect the characteristics of coronary artery plaque and to investigate its correlation with levels of serum matrix metalloproteinase 7(MMP 7),MMP9 and MMP12.Methods The patients undergoing coronary arterial angiography for diagnosing coronary arterial lesions in the cardiology department of our hospital from October 2014 to March 2016 were collected and included into the research subjects.The subjects were divided into the stable plaque group and unstable plaque group based on the results of OCT scanning.The neovascularization characteristics such as the fibrous cap thickness of plaque,angle of lipid pool,macrophage infiltration and plaque cracks were detected by using OCT.ELISA was used to measure serum MMP7,MMP9 and MMP12 levels.Results (1) The fibrous cap thickness in the stable plaque group was more than that in the unstable plaque group(P＜0.01);the lipid pool angle,microphage infiltration,intima erosion and plaque cracks in the unstable plaque group were more than those in the stable plaque group(P＜0.05).(2) The MMP7 and MMP9 levels in the unstable plaque group were higher than those in the stable plaque group and control group(P＜0.05).(3) The fibrous cap thickness had significantly negative correlation with serum MMP9 level(r=-0.336,P=0.034);the MMP7 and MMP9 levels in the microphage infiltration group were higher than those in the non-microphage infiltration group(P＜0.05);the MMP9 level in the intima erosion group was higher than that in the non-intima erosion group(P＜0.01).Conclusion OCT can detect and find unstable plaque and the serum levels of MMP7 and MMP9 are significantly elevated in the patients with unstable plaque,which can be used as an important basis for predicting unstable plaque and guiding the treatment decisions.

Objective To explore the unique relationship between Willis circle and cerebral watershed infarction in a Chinese population. Methods A retrospective analysis of cerebral CT angiography was conducted in 471 non-cere?bral watershed infarctions and 93 MRI-diagnosed cerebral watershed infarctions (CWI)(including External CWI and In?ternal CWI)in Department of Neurology of our hospital and compare the related variations and types of Willis circle be?tween these groups. Results Compared with non-cerebral watershed infarctions, the prevalence of Uni-FTP (short for“fetal type of the Posterior cerebral artery”) in E-CWI (36.4%, P<0.05) and Bi-FTP in I-CWI (0%, P<0.05) was signifi?cantly higher in cerebral watershed infarctions. Conclusion FTP is probably an unique risk factor in Chinese patients with CWI.

Objective To explore the effects of early hospital-family comprehensive rehabilitation on the development of pretenn infants. Methods A total of 256 premature infants were chosen and divided into an early intervention group (n = 148) and a control group (n =108). Besides being given the conventional mothering instruction , the early intervention group was given early assessment, regular visits and hospital-family comprehensive rehabilitation treatment. The control group was only given the conventional mothering instruction. The fine and gross motor growth quotients, adaptation, verbalisation and social behavior and general growth quotient of all the premature infants were assessed periodically using the infant neuropsychology growth scale. Results The growth quotient assessment indicators of the infants receiving the intervention were obviously better at the 6th, 12th, 18th and 24th month after birth, and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant. The incidence of cerebral palsy in the early intervention group was 0.71% (1/148), with only one cerebral palsy infant in the early intervention group who was at level Ⅲ of the gross motor function classification system ( GMFCS) , while the incidence of cerebral palsy in the control group was 5.1% (5/98) , with 5 cerebral palsy infants, one of whom was at GMFCS level Ⅲ and 4 of whom were at level Ⅳ. Conclusions Early systematic hospital-family comprehensive rehabilitation can improve the general growth of premature infants, decrease the incidence of cerebral palsy, and neurobehavior deficits.

In order to investigate the expression and functional role of HERG1 K+ channels in leukemic cells and leukemic stem cells (LSCs), RT-PCR was used to detect the HERG1 K+ channels expression in leukemic cells and LSCs. The functional role of HERG1 K+ channels in leukemic cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay, and cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. The results showed that herg mRNA was expressed in CD34+/CD38-, CD123+ LSCs but not in circulating CD34+ cells. Herg mRNA was also up-regulated in leukemia cell lines K562 and HL60 as well as almost all the primary leukemic cells while not in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) and the expression of herg mRNA was not associated with the clinical and cytogenetic features of leukemia. In addition, leukemic cell proliferation was dramatically inhibited by HERG K+ channel special inhibitor E-4031. Moreover, E-4031 suppressed the cell growth by inducing a specific block at the G1/S transition phase of the cell cycle but had no effect on apoptosis in leukemic cells. The results suggested that HERG1 K+ channels could regulate leukemic cells proliferation and were necessary for leukemic cells to proceed with the cell cycle. HERG1 K+ channels may also have oncogenic potential and may be a biomarker for diagnosis of leukemia and a novel potential pharmacological target for leukemia therapy.

OBJECTIVE:To systematically evaluate therapeutic efficacy of modified Shenqi dihuang decoction in the treatment of chronic glomerular nephritis. METHODS:Retrieved from Wanfang database,CNKI,VIP,CBM,Cochrane Library,Medline, EMBase and PubMed,randomized controlled trials(RCTs)about modified Shenqi dihuang decoction combined with conventional therapy and (or) other Chinese patent medicine (trial group) vs. conventional therapy and (or) other Chinese patent medicine (control group)in the treatment of chronic glomerular nephritis were collected. Meta-analysis was carried out by using Rev Man 5.3 software after literature scanning,data extraction and quality evaluation. Stata 14.0 software was used to conduct Egger test to evaluate publication bias. If publication bias existed,the effect of publication bias on outcome was further evaluated by scissor compensation. TSA v0.9 software was used for trial sequential analysis(TSA)of total efficency. RESULTS:A total of 10 RCTs were included,involving 707 patients. The results of Meta-analysis showed that total response rate of trial group [RR＝1.40,95%CI(1.22, 1.61),P＜0.001] was significantly higher than that of control group; the level of urine protein [SMD＝－1.97,95%CI(－2.92,－1.03),P＜0.001] and Scr [MD＝－28.41,95%CI(－38.95,－17.87),P＜0.001] in trial group were significantly lower than control group,with statistical significance. Publication bias test of total response rate was conducted,and results of it showed that there was publication bias,but bias did not affect the results of this study. TSA analysis showed that the evidence of Meta-analysis was false positive. CONCLUSIONS:Therapeutic efficacy of modified Shenqi dihuang decoction for chronic glomerular nephritis need to be proved by more stringent RCTs.

In order to investigate the expression and functional role of HERG1 K+ channels in leukemic cells and leukemic stem cells (LSCs), RT-PCR was used to detect the HERG1 K+ channels expression in leukemic cells and LSCs. The functional role of HERG1 K+ channels in leukemic cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay, and cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. The results showed that herg mRNA was expressed in CD34+/CD38-, CD123+ LSCs but not in circulating CD34+ cells. Herg mRNA was also up-regulated in leukemia cell lines K562 and HL60 as well as almost all the primary leukemic cells while not in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) and the expression of herg mRNA was not associated with the clinical and cytogenetic features of leukemia. In addition, leukemic cell proliferation was dramatically inhibited by HERG K+ channel special inhibitor E-4031. Moreover, E-4031 suppressed the cell growth by inducing a specific block at the G1/S transition phase of the cell cycle but had no effect on apoptosis in leukemic cells. The results suggested that HERG1 K+ channels could regulate leukemic cells proliferation and were necessary for leukemic cells to proceed with the cell cycle. HERG1 K+ channels may also have oncogenic potential and may be a biomarker for diagnosis of leukemia and a novel potential pharmacological target for leukemia therapy.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pharyngeal spraying recombinant human interfe-ron alpha 2b (rhIFNα2b) in the treatment of herpangina in children.Method:s A prospective, multicenter, rando-mized, opened and controlled study was carried out in 11 hospitals in Anhui province from August 2018 to March 2019.According to the time of admission, 180 patients diagnosed as herpangina were prospectively and randomly divided into rhIFNα2b treatment group and Ribavirin control group.On the basis of giving both groups the heat-clearing, detoxifying and anti-infection treatment, the patients in treatment group received pharyngeal spraying rhIFNα2b 9 g/L saline solution[1 million IU/mL, 0.1 million IU/(0.1 mL·press)], and the patients in control group were treated by pharyngeal spraying Ribavirin (0.5 mg RBV/press, 150 press), 3 presses per time, 4 times per day, continuous administration for 5 days for both groups.Those who recovered in advance were no longer given medication.All patients were observed to fully recover.The clinical efficacy and the disappearing time of symptoms and signs between two groups were compared, and the safety of pharyngeal spraying rhIFNα2b for patients was evaluated.Result:s All of the 180 patients completed the study, including 90 cases in the treatment group and 90 cases in the control group.There was no statistically significant difference in terms of gender, age, weight and course of illness before treatment between the two groups (all P>0.05), which had clinical comparability.The apparent efficiency of the treatment group [63.3% (57/90 cases)] was significantly higher than that in the control group [38.9% (35/90 cases)] and the difference was statistically significant( χ2=10.934, P=0.004); no significant difference in the total efficiency between the treatment group [96.7% (87/90 cases)]and the control group [92.2% (83/90 cases)]was observed ( χ2=2.924, P=0.169). The duration of fever[(32.59±20.73) h vs.(45.72±26.96) h], hyperemia[(76.48±23.12) h vs.(92.44±24.31) h], herpes[(72.99±25.77) h vs.(85.09± 26.62) h], salivation[(45.44±24.96) h vs.(54.42±31.20) h] and anorexia[(62.70±23.99) h vs.(78.71±30.54) h] in the treatment group were significantly shorter than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05). Before treatment, the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α) [(13.02±4.41) ng/L vs.(13.57±9.27) ng/L], interleukin-6(IL-6) [(26.48±11.31) ng/L vs.(30.15±15.55) ng/L] and C-reactive protein(CRP)[(19.34±14.11) mg/L vs.(19.83±14.57) mg/L]were not significantly different between the two groups (all P>0.05). After treatment, the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were(7.26±1.99) ng/L and (2.42±0.73) ng/L in the treatment group, which were significantly lower than those in the control group [(12.09±6.39) ng/L and (7.32±11.51) ng/L](all P<0.05), but no significant difference in serum levels of CRP between the two groups was observed ( P>0.05). The comparison on positive rate of virus in pharyngeal swab between the treatment group [65.3% (32/49 cases) and 40.6% (13/32 cases) respectively] and the control group[66.7%(36/54 cases) and 41.0% (16/39 cases), respectively]before and after therapy showed no significant difference (all P>0.05). During the treatment, no serious adverse reactions were observed in the two groups.The incidence of adverse reactions was 1.1% (1/90 cases) in the treatment group and 5.6% (5/90 cases) in the control group.In addition, the serum hemoglobin level of children in the control group after treatment was significantly lower than that before treatment and that in the treatment group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Compared with pharyngeal spraying ribavirin, pharyngeal spraying rhIFNα2b can greatly improve the clinical efficiency, accelerate the disappearance of clinical symptoms and signs, and shorten the total course of disease, and is more safe and worthy of clinical application.

Objective To determine the influence of abiraterone acetate (AA) on neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and the prognostic predicting value of the serum NED markers in mCRPC patients treated with AA.Methods We conducted an analysis in 115 chemotherapy-naive mCRPC patients who were treated with chemotherapy in Renji hospital from 2013 to 2017.The median age was 70,ranged from 65 to 76 years old.The median CgA,NSE and PSA levels were 101.1 ng/ml (78.5-150.0 ng/ml),13.4 ng/ml (10.5-17.6 ng/ml) and 38.8 ng/ml (11.2-123.2 ng/ml),respectively.Among them,48 cases were classified as the group without AA treatment.The other 67 cases were classified as group after AA failure.In group without AA treatment,the median CgA,NSE and PSA levels were 109.1 ng/ml(80-151.5 ng/ml);13.8 ng/ml(10.8-18.2 ng/ml) and 39.2 ng/ml (8.6-200 ng/ml),respectively.In group after AA failure,the median CgA,NSE and PSA levels were 105.4 ng/ml(78.8-175.5 ng/ml),13.8 ng/ml(10.8-17.6 ng/ml) and 39.0 ng/ml(8.4-219.8 ng/ml),respectively.In the group with serial evaluation of NED markers during AA treatment,the median serum CgA,NSE levels at baseline were 115.9 ng/ml(90.1-201.5 ng/ml),13.3 ng/ml (10.4-18.1 ng/ml),respectively.The endpoints were PSA PFS(progression-free survival) and radiographic PFS (rPFS).Results In 34 patients with serial evaluation,serum NED markers level in 19 patients increased after the failure of AA treatment.Median serum CgA and NSE levels were 115.9 ng/ml(90.1-201.5 ng/ml)and 13.25 ng/ml (10.37-18.14 ng/ml) at baseline.Median serum CgA and NSE levels were 129.6ng/ml (75.5-230.5 ng/ml) and 14.7 ng/ml (11.8-19.1 ng/ml) after 6 months treatment,respectively.The median serum CgA and NSE levels were 130.4 ng/ml (95.7-205.7 ng/ml) and 15.2 ng/ml(12.4-18.7 ng/ml) at the time of failure of AA treatment,respectively.There was no significant difference of NED markers between baseline and failure of AA treatment (P =0.243).In logistic univariate analysis,AA treatment and its duration were not independent factors influencing NED(P =0.30;P =0.52).Compared with the NED markers elevation group in the first 6 months of AA treatment and baseline supranormal NED markers group,the NED markers decline group(PSA PFS(17.1 vs.10.4 months,P ＜ 0.001) and rPFS (17.0 vs.10.4 months,P =0.003)) and baseline normal NED markers group(PSA PFS(14.1 vs.9.5 months,P =0.001) and rPFS(16.4 vs.10.5 months,P ＜ 0.001)) has a longer median PSA PFS and rPFS respectively.In multivariate Cox analysis,baseline NED markers level and NED markers variation during the first 6 months of AA treatment remained significant predictors of rPFS(P ＜ 0.05),and PSA-PFS (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions We found there was heterogeneity in changes of NED markers in different mCRPC patients during AA treatment,and AA might not significantly lead to progression of NED of mCRPC in general.Serial CgA and NSE evaluation might help clinicians guide clinical treatment of mCRPC patients.Serum NED markers elevation during the first 6 months of AA treatment and elevated baseline NED markers levels indicated poor prognosis in mCRPC treated with AA.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the biomechanical effect of anterior screw fixation on the type II fractured odontoid process.

METHODSTwenty fresh human C1-C2 vertebrae specimens were harvested and randomly divided into three groups. The angle of type II fracture line was 0 degree in group I (n=6), 17 degrees in group II (n=8) and 25 degrees in group III (n=6). The fractures were treated by anterior screw fixation. Insertion torque,maximal axial pullout force and stiffness of the bone-screw were tested.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference of screw insertion torque and the pull-out strength between each group. The displacement of the odontoid fragment had an association to the angle of the fracture line,the displacement of the small angle was significantly higher than that of the large one (P < 0.5). No significant difference of structure stiffness of the bone-screw was found between each group.

CONCLUSIONAnterior screw fixation is feasible for type II odontoid fracture with certain fracture line extends from anteroinferior to posterosuperior.

Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Screws ; Cervical Vertebrae ; injuries ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Spinal Fractures ; physiopathology ; surgery

Activation of inflammatory responses regulates the transmission of pain pathways through an integrated network in the peripheral and central nervous systems. The immunopotentiator thymosin alpha-1 (Tα1) has recently been reported to have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective functions in rodents. However, how Tα1 affects inflammatory pain remains unclear. In the present study, intraperitoneal injection of Tα1 attenuated complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced pain hypersensitivity, and decreased the up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) in inflamed skin and the spinal cord. We found that CFA-induced peripheral inflammation evoked strong microglial activation, but the effect was reversed by Tα1. Notably, Tα1 reversed the CFA-induced up-regulation of vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT) and down-regulated the vesicular γ-aminobutyric acid transporter (VGAT) in the spinal cord. Taken together, these results suggest that Tα1 plays a therapeutic role in inflammatory pain and in the modulation of microglia-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production in addition to mediation of VGLUT and VGAT expression in the spinal cord.