Objective: To explore the factors affecting the prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) among HIV/AIDS patients, so as to provide insights into developing HAND prevention measures. Methods: HIV/AIDS patients aged 18 years and above in the Infection Department of Nanjing Second Hospital were selected.Demographic data, treatment regimen and blood biochemical indicators were collected. Depression was evaluated using Patient Health Questionnaire Depression Scale, frailty was evaluated using Chinese version of Tilburg Frailty Indicator, and HAND was evaluated by Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale. Factors affecting HAND were analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: Totally 440 questionnaires were allocated and 426 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective rate of 96.82%. The median age of patients investigated was 33.00 (interquartile range, 10.00) year. There were 407 males, accounting for 95.54%; 232 patients with bachelor degree or above, accounting for 54.46%; 171 patients with HAND, accounting for 40.14%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that educational level (bachelor degree or above, OR=0.291, 95%CI: 0.157-0.541), depression (OR=2.499, 95%CI: 1.530-4.083), frailty (OR=2.121, 95%CI: 1.307-3.441) and treatment regimen including efavirenz (OR=2.223, 95%CI: 1.367-3.615) were the influencing factors for HAND among HIV/AIDS patients. Conclusion Educational level, depression, frailty and use of efavirenz may be associated with HAND risk.

Objective: To observe the effects of Naomaitong, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, combined with mobilization of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on neuron apoptosis in rats with cerebral ischemia, and to explore the possible mechanism by detecting the expressions of Fas, FasL and caspase-3 proteins. Methods: Two hundred and two SD rats were divided into sham-operated group, untreated group, recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rG-CSF) group, Naomaitong group and Naomaitong plus rG-CSF group (combination group). Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by intraluminal middle cerebral artery occlusion using a nylon thread with some modification. Rats in the rG-CSF group and the untreated group were administered with rG-CSF 10 mug/(kg.d) by subcutaneous injection 3 d before and 2 d after the operation respectively, once a day, and rats in the Naomaitong group and the combination group were intragastrically administered Naomaitong before and after the operation until sacrificed. Two, three, seven and fourteen days after operation, count of CD34-positive cells in peripheral blood and CD34 expression in brain tissue were determined. General neural function score (GNFS) was evaluated. Neuron apoptosis, expressions of Fas, FasL and caspase-3 in rat's brain were all measured. Results: Count of CD34-positive cells in peripheral blood and CD34 expression in brain tissue were high in the untreated group, and reached the peak at 3 d and 7 d respectively. CD34 expression in brain tissue was increased in each treated group, especially in the combination group. GNFS was increased at 3 d and 7 d in the untreated group, 7 d and 14 d in the rG-CSF group and the combination group. Expressions of Fas, FasL and caspase-3 were increased 2, 3 and 7 d after operation, while expression of FasL at 2 d in the rG-CSF group, expressions of Fas, FasL and caspase-3 in the combination group were decreased. Expressions of Fas, FasL and caspase-3 at 7 d and 14 d in the combination group were lower than those in the rG-CSF group. Meanwhile, expressions of Fas, FasL and caspase-3 were decreased in each group at 14 d as compared with those at 3 d. Conclusion: There exists interaction between Naomaitong and BMSC mobilization in the effect of improving nerve function and inhibiting neuron apoptosis in rats after cerebral ischemia. It is implied that Naomaitong combined with BMSC mobilization down-regulates the expressions of Fas and FasL in early phase and then inhibits the apoptosis cascade reaction caused by caspase-3, which causes further inhibition of Fas and FasL expression after cerebral ischemia.

[Summary] The study was to introduce quality of life measurement instruments for thyroid cancer,as well as the application of these scales.(1) Quality of life scales such as generic scale SF-36,tumor-specific scale EORTC QLQ-C30 were used in previous studies.(2) In these studies,the quality of life assessment was mainly used for measurement of quality of life in patients with thyroid cancer,comparative effectiveness research and specific psychological intervention evaluation,analysis of relevant factors affecting quality of life in patients with thyroid cancer.

Objective: To explore the application value on combined examination of blood levels of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) and NT-pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for their recent prognosis.
Methods: A total of 102 patients with sudden cardiac arrest and successful CPR in our hospital were enrolled. Blood levels of GDF-15 were examined at immediately, 12 h and 24-48 h after CPR respectively. According to GDF-15 levels, the patients were divided into 3 groups: Group A, the patients with GDF-15<1200 ng/L at all-time points,n=31; Group B, GDF-15 level consistently increasing and GDF-15>1200 ng/L at all-time points,n=35; Group C, GDF-15 level consistently increasing at 12 h and 24-48 h after CPR, while it was lower at 24-48 h than 12 h after CPR,n=36. Blood levels of NT-proBNP and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were also examined. The patients were followed-up for 6 months for post-CPR death.
Results: Blood levels of GDF-15 and NT-proBNP were related, NT-proBNP level was changing with GDF-15 varying. GDF-15 and NT-proBNP level was negatively related to LVEF (r=-0.530,P<0.001), the patients with GDF-15>1800 ng/L and NT-proBNP>400 pg/ml had the higher mortality than those had the lower levels of GDF-15 and NT-proBNP,P<0.05. Survival analysis presented that 6 months survival rate in Group B was lower than Group A and Group C,P<0.05; survival rate was similar between Group A and Group C,P>0.05.
Conclusion: Combined examination for blood levels of GDF-15 and NT-proBNP may better predict the recent prognosis in patients who received CPR.

Objective To investigate the effect of Zhali Nusi Recipe ( ZNR) on hemorheological parameters, blood - lipid metabolism, the activities of superoxide dismutase ( SOD) and glutathione peroxidase ( GSH-Px) , and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in brain tissues of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats with the syndrome of phlegm blended with blood stasis. Methods Ninety rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, nimodiping (10.8 mg/kg) group, high-, middle- and low-dose ZNR groups ( in the dosage of 30, 15, 7.5 g/kg, respectively) , 15 rats in each group. Except the sham operation group, the other groups were given intragastric administration of intralipid for 4 weeks, and then were induced into focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion by middle cerebral artery occlusion with thread-obstruction method. After post-operation medication for 7 days, the rat general situations, the neurological deficiency symptoms, and the water content in brain tissues were observed. The morphological features of brain tissues were observed after HE staining. The blood was taken from the ab dominal aorta to detect the hemorheological parameters and blood lipid levels. Metabolic levels of free radicals in the brain tissue homogenate were also determined. Results Compared with the sham operation group, neurological deficiency scores of the rats and the water content in the brain tissues of model group were significantly enhanced. The hippocampal neurons of model rats presented typical ischemic changes. In the model group, the hemorheological parameters such as whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, hematocrit ( HCT) , and erythrocyte aggregation in dexes ( EAI) were significantly increased, and erythrocyte deformation indexes were significantly decreased; the serum levels of total cholesterol ( TC) , triglyceride ( TG) , low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were significantly increased, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C) level was significantly decreased; the activities of SOD and GSH-Px in brain tissues were significantly decreased, and MDA content was increased significantly ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the model group, high-, middle-and low-dose ZNR improved the general situations of the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats, increased the neurological deficiency scores, reduced the water content in brain tissues, improved the recovery of morphology of cells in cerebral ischemia tissues, reduced whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, HCT and EAI of the model rats, promoted erythrocyte deformation indexes, decreased serum TG, TC, LDL-C levels, increased the activities of SOD and GSH-Px in cerebral ischemic tissues, and sig nificantly decreased MDA content (P<0.05 or P<0.01). And high-dose ZNR had the best effect. Conclusion ZNR has certain protective effect on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats with the syndrome of phlegm blended with blood stasis, and the mechanism may be closely related with the improvement ofhemorheology, blood lipid and free radical metabolism in model rats.