Objective To investigate the effects of sericin pretreatment on the expression of extracellular matrix(ECM) associated protein in diabetic nephropathy(DN) rats' kidney.Methods Sixty six male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups(n=12):normal control group,DN model group and sericine pretreatment group.DN rats model in model group and sericine pretreatment group were established by intraperitoneally injection of streptozotocin(STZ).Blood glucose≥16.7 mmol/L was taken as the standard of successful modelization.The rats in sericine pretreatment group were lavaged with sericine(2.4 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) for 35 days before injecting STZ.The enzymic method was used to measure the blood glucose.Type Ⅳ collagen(cⅣ)and laminin(LN)content in the serum were detected by ELBA.The expression of transforming growth factor-β_1,(TGF-β_1)and tissue inhibitors of maprix metalloproteinase-1(TMP-1) protein in the kidney was observed by immunohistochemical staining.The expression of Smad 3 protein in the kidney was detected by Western blot.Results Compared with normal control rats,the blood glucose,cⅣ and LN content in the serum,TGF-β_1,TIMP-1 and Smad 3 expression in the kidney of the model group rats increased obviously(P<0.01).The blood glucose,cⅣ and LN content in the serum,TGF-β_1,TMP-1 and Smad3 expression in the kidney of rats in sericine pretreatment group were significantly lower than those of the rats in model group(P<0.01).Conclusion Sericin pretreatment can inhibit the activation of TGF-β/Smad 3 signal pathway in the kidney of DN rats,and prevent the decrease of MMPs activity induced by up-regulation of TIMP-1.So sericin can prevent accumulation of ECM and glomerulosclerosis during DN,and has satisfactory apotropaic effects on the development of DN.

Drug toxicology,as a discipline which studies drug toxicity mechanisms and evaluates comprehensive drug safety is of crucial importance for guiding sensible clinical drug use,reducing adverse drug reactions and reducing failures of new drug development caused by toxicity. This article summarizes the basic situation of Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)funded projects in drug toxicology between 2001 and 2015,involving the amount of approved grants,funding rate,funding category and supported faculty,and the change of NSFC guidelines. Research topics,ideas and contents of NSFC funded projects are generalized and characteristics,problems and future trends are also analyzed to provide reference for research on drug toxicology.

Objective To investigate in vitro activities of 5 fungal agents(amphotericin B,ketoconazole,fluconasole,5-fluorocytoaine and itroconazole)against Penicillium marneffei,providing references for clinical treatment.Methods E-test was used to test the in vitro susceptibilities of 5 antifungal agents (amphotericin B,ketoconazole,fluconasole,5-fluorocytoaine and itroconazole)against yeast form and mycelial form of 52 Penicillium marneffei strains isolated from our hospital.Results The 90% minimal inhibitory concentrations(MIC90)of amphotericin B,ketoconazole,fluconasole,5-fluorocytoaine and itroconazole against yeast form of Penicillium marneffei were 0.250,0.160,24.000,4.000,0.006 mg/L,the minimal inhibitory concentration(MIC)ranges were 0.004-0.500,0.002-0.016,1.000-256.000,0.002-32.000 and 0.002-0.008 mg/L,respectively;the MIG90 of the 5 agents against mycelial form of Penicil lium marneffei were 1.500,0.125,256.000,24.000 and 0.012 mg/L,respectively;the MIC ranges were 0.064-4.000,0-006-0.940,1-000-256.000,0.125-32.000 and 0.002-0.064 mg/L respectively.Five antifungal agents had different susceptibility patterns against both forms of Penicillium marneffei.And itroconazole was the most susceptible one,ketoconazole follows as the second.There was significant difference between the MICs of the same agent against yeast form of Penicillium marneffei and mycelial form of Penicillium marneffei.Conclusion In vitro antifungal agents suscepbibility tests of Penicillium marneffei can provide important references information for clinical treatment.

Objective To study the effects of Hydergine on expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in hippocampus and actions of mice with ischemia-reperfusion injury.Methods 36 mice were randomly divided into model group,Hydergine group and sham-operated group. The models of ischemia-reperfusion injury were made by knotting bilateral common carotid arteries. The behavioral abnormalities were investigated by step-down test and water maze test, and the expressions of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in neurons of hippocampus were observed by immunohistochemistry technique. Results Compared with model group, the performance records of learning and memory in Hydergine group were better (all P

BACKGROUND: Currently, the morphologic characteristics of the torn discoid lateral meniscus remain unclear, andmorphological indexes used to evaluate the discoid lateral meniscus tears still need to be explored. OBJECTIVE: To discuss the specificity and sensitivity of discoid lateral meniscal tears in children using morphological indexes. METHODS: Seventy-three patients (seventy-six knees) with torn discoid lateral meniscus underwentarthroscopy and MRI data of knee examinations were retrospectively reviewed. All MR images were double-blinded, independently, retrospectively analyzed by attending radiologist (doctor A) and sports physician (doctor B). The following morphological signs of discoid lateral meniscus, such as a internal displaced free edge sign, a hypertrophic free edge sign and a hypertrophied-horn sign, were selected to evaluate the discoid lateral meniscus tears. The likelihood of the discoid lateral meniscus tears was analyzed on basis of arthroscopic findings constituted the gold standard. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MRI diagnosis of the discoid lateral meniscus tears by two physicians were calculated, and the consistency of diagnosis results by two physicians was evaluated using the Kappa statistics.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in the diagnosis of discoid lateral meniscustears by internal displaced free edge sign for doctor A were 19%, 94% and 53%, respectively, and for doctor B were 21%, 97% and 55%. (2) The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in the diagnosis of discoid lateral meniscus tears by hypertrophic free edge sign for doctor A were 52%, 100% and 74%, respectively, and for doctor B were 57%, 97% and 75%. (3) The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in the diagnosis of discoid lateral meniscus tears by hypertrophied-horn sign for doctor A were 26%, 97% and 58%, respectively, and for doctor B were 24%, 100% and 58%. (4) The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in the diagnosis of discoid lateral meniscus tears by binding morphological index for doctor A were 86%, 91% and 87%, respectively, and for doctor B were 88%, 94% and 91%. (5) The Kappa statistics for discoid lateral meniscus tears respectively demonstrated a good inter-observer agreement (K > 0.75, P < 0.001). (6) These findings suggest that single morphological index used to evaluate the discoid lateral meniscus tears shows a good specificity, but which also shows a low sensitivity, while a binding morphological index can significantly improve the diagnostic sensitivity. Morphological characteristics may be reliable indexes to evaluate the discoid lateral meniscal tears in children.

BACKGROUND:Currently, the morphologic changes of the discoid lateral meniscus (DLM) remain unclear, and morphological indexes used to evaluate the injuries of DLM stil need to be explored. OBJECTIVE:To compare the MR imaging difference between symptomatic and asymptomatic DLM in adults, and to select reliablemorphologicalparametersfor assessing DLM. METHODS:A total of 36 patients (36 knees) with a symptomatic DLM (study group)and 34 patients (34 knees) with an asymptomatic DLM (control group) were included in this study. GE Healthcare Centricity RIS/PACKS System was used to measure the primary morphological parameters of two patients with DLM on coronal MR imaging. Intergroup comparison was performed with the Wilcoxon test. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:On the coronal MR imaging, the width of the body portion and height of the free edge of the DLM was significantly increased in the study group compared with the control group (P< 0.001), while the height of the peripheral portion which connects with the capsule of the DLM was significantly decreased in the study group compared with the control group (P= 0.002). The heightof the middle of the DLM and the width of the lateral femoral condyle showed no significant differences between the both groups (P> 0.05). The width ratio of the body of the DLM to the lateral femoral condyle and the height ratio of height of the free edge to the middle of the DLM were significantly increased in thestudy group compared with the control group (P< 0.001), while the height ratio of the peripheral portion to the middle for the DLM was significantly decreased compared with the control group (P< 0.001). These findings suggest that compared with asymptomatic discoid lateral meniscus, the width of the body portion and the height of the free edge for the DLM are increased;however,the height of the peripheral portion which connects with the capsule of the DLM is decreased. The width ratio of the body portion of the DLM to the lateral femoral condyle and the height ratio of the free edge to the middle for the DLM may be reliable morphological parameters for the assessment of the DLM in adults.

Objective To explore the effects of flipped classroom on the experiment teaching of emergency and critical care nursing. Methods The nursing undergraduates in grade 2014 of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group. The traditional teaching model was used in the control group, while the experimental group adopted the flipped classroom teaching model. Students in the experimental group watch micro videos for preview before class , carry out review , discussion , answering , group exercise , guidance , displaying , communication and teacher commenting in class, and undergo summarizing and evaluation after class. The theoretical and operational test scores of the two groups were compared, and the evaluation data of the experimental group students on the effect of flipped classroom teaching model were collected. Results The theoretical scores and experimental scores of students in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group respectively [(82.51 ±5.03) vs. (77.36 ±5.48) and (94.35 ±3.16) vs. (88.02 ±4.27), respectively], and the differences were statistically significant (P=0.011, 0.000). A total of 92.1％ of the students in the experimental group said they liked the teaching model, and 90.3％wanted to continue using the flipped classroom teaching mode . Conclusion The flipped classroom teaching model is highly regarded by the students , and the application of it is helpful to improve students' comprehensive performance.

A novel system is proposed to control the liquid nitrogen cooling and radio frequency heating of tissue to achieve effective thermal ablation in the treatment using fuzzy logic controller and fuzzy logic PID type controller separately. Results of ex-vivo pig liver experiments demonstrate that this system is useful and could p control the desired treatment procedure.
Algorithms ; Animals ; Computer Simulation ; Cryotherapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Electrocoagulation ; instrumentation ; methods ; Equipment Design ; Fuzzy Logic ; Liver ; Swine

ObjectiveTo study the correlation between the etiology and clinical features of erythroderma.MethodsThe clinical data on 182 patients with erythroderma were retrospectively collected and analyzed.ResultsThe male-to-female ratio was 2.8 ∶ 1 and the average age at onset was 58.6 ± 14.6 years.Of the 182 cases,135 (74.2％) were due to pre-existing dermatoses,14 (7.7％) to drug reaction,8 (4.4％) to malignancies,while 25(13.7％) had no obvious precipitating factors.The most frequent triggering factor was systemic consumption of drugs(52 patients,28.6％ ),and glucocorticosteroid was the most prevalent causative drug.Seventy-six patients were followed up,recurrence was observed in 14 patients but not in 58 patients,and 5 patients died,2 patients with idiopathic erythroderma were finally diagnosed with mycosis fungoides (MF)after multiple skin biopsies.ConclusionsPre-existing dermatoses are the most frequent cause of erythroderma.Idiopathic erythroderma is liable to relapse,possibly associated with malignancies,and should be closely followed up.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and new-onset carotid plaque through latent class trajectory models.Methods:A total of 953 observation objects came from the first affiliated hospital of Zhengzhou University in accordance with the inclusion criteria. According to the FPG values of the observed subjects during the annual physical examination from January 2017 to December 2019, the following four different FPG trajectories groups were determined by latent class trajectory modelling tools: the low-stable group, the medium stable group, the medium-high stable group, and the high stable group. Carotid plaque incidence in each group was followed up in 2020 to compare the differences of the cumulative incidences of the four groups. The Cox proportional risk regression model was used to analyze the correlation between different FPG trajectories and new-onset carotid plaque.Results:The incidence of carotid plaque increased with the increase of FPG trajectories by 11.13%, 19.70%, 23.44%, 23.81%, respectively, with significance ( P<0.001). After adjusting gender, age, BMI and other confounding factors with the cox proportional risk regression model, the risk of carotid plaque in the FPG medium stable group, medium and high stable group, high-stable group was still 1.895 (95% CI: 1.296-2.769), 2.273 (95% CI: 1.241-4.161), 2.527 (95% CI: 1.219-5.241) times of the low stable group (all P<0.05). Conclusion:The long-term high FPG levels are independent risk factors for the incidence of carotid plaque, and controlling FPG at a low level steadily can reduce the risk of carotid plaque.