Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes,dyslipidemia, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome.It likely represents hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. The prevalence of NAFLD has been estimated to be 20％-30％ in the general population. However, it is much higher in type 2 diabetic patients. Several epidemiological studies indicate that NAFLD is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease( CVD), which is independent of underlying cardiometabolic risk factors. This suggests that NAFLD may also be actively involved in the pathogenesis. The possible molecular mediators linking NAFLD and atherosclerosis(AS) include the release of pro-atherogenic factors by oxidative stress and inflammation as well as atherogenic dyslipidemia, abnormal adipose factors, and insulin resistance, finally aggravating progression of CVD. In this article, the relationship and possible mechanisms between NAFLD and AS are reviewed.

As monosaccharide polymers,polysaccharides are widely distributed in nature,they are found in microorganisms,plants and animal cells and tissues.Glycosylation is of importance to maintain the structural stability and biological activity of protein molecules in eukaryotic cells.Polysaccharides represent the most important antigens recognized by immune system.The innate immune system senses invading microbes via their pathogen-associated molecular patterns,using pattern-recognition receptors on the surface of innate immune cells,many of which are polysaccharides uniquely expressed in certain microorganisms.Polysaccharides can also be processed intracellularly and presented to ??-T cells by MHC molecules.Polysaccharides can activate B lymphocytes,with or without T cell help,and induce production of specific antibodies.Amongst the polysaccharide-specific antibodies in human sera,some are products of adaptive humoral responses against microbial infection and others autoantibodies to glycan epitopes of host cells.Patients with autoimmune disorders tend to have higher titers of antibodies against various glycans.Immune clearance of senescence cells depends on the recognition of altered glycan epitopes on cell surface.Modification of glycan epitopes on tumour cell surface is at least partially responsible for activating antitumor immunity.Specific recognition of polysaccharides by the immune system is of importance to immunological defence,autoimmunity,anti-tumour immunity and immunological homeostasis,it will be the new focus of immunology research in the near future.

Objective To investigate the significance of Qmax and residual urine in evaluation of bladder function in the patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Methods The clinical data of 61 patients with BPH and 20 healthy persons in control group were evaluated.Bladder function,uroflowmetry and ultrasonic residual urine measurement were performed in the 2 groups.The correlation between Q max and residual urine in BPH group was investigated.Results There was significant difference in Qmax between the BPH group and control group (8 vs.21 ml/s,u=-6.090,P=0.007).There was significant difference in residual urine between the 2 groups (60 vs.9 ml,u =-6.718,P=0.005).And there was a negtive correlation between residual urine and Qmax in BPH group (r=-0.366,P=0.009).Conclusion It is useful to measure the Qmax and residual urine in evaluation of bladder function affected by bladder outlet obstruction caused by BPH.

Recent advancements on interventional molecular imaging aimed to further complement the advantages of two imaging fields, namely, interventional radiology and molecular imaging. Interventional molecular imaging significantly improved the early diag-nosis of cancer, local treatment, and monitoring of tumor treatments. Interventional radiology has continuously extended the capabili-ties of the currently available molecular imaging techniques to (i) obtain deep-seated targets;(ii) thoroughly examine small targets;(iii) precisely guide the delivery of non-targeted imaging tracers or therapeutics;and (iv) selectively enhance the effectiveness of targeted imaging and treatment with high accuracy. Molecular imaging has been used to guide interventional therapies and assess the thera-peutic efficacies of medical interventions. The continuous efforts on interventional molecular imaging extend molecular imaging from benches or small animal laboratories to large animal suites and ultimately to certain clinical applications in humans and enhance the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Objective To observe leptin level before and after rosiglitazone administration and to explore the possible mechanism of rosiglitazone's improving insulin sensitivity.Methods A total of 30 patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were separated into three groups at random,and treated with rosiglitazone(4mg/d),metform(750mg/d) and gliclazide(160mg/d),respectively.Serum leptin,insulin and GHbA1c were measured after 12 weeks.Results After 12 weeks' treatment,the fasting glucose and GHbA1c in each group declined sharply,while free insulin did not change.The leptin level in rosiglitazone group decreased and insulin sensitivity was improved after administration,but there was no change in metformin and sulfonylureas groups.Conclusion Leptin may play a role in rosiglitazone's mediating the insulin-sensitizing effects.

Objective To study the effects of deep hypothermia and L-arginine(NO precursor) pretreatment on cerebral protection after circulatory arrest and resuscitation in a canine model. Methods Ten healthy adult dogs of both sexes, weighing 14.45?2.3kg, were randomly divided into two groups(n=5): sham treatment group and L-arginine pretreatment group. Extracorporeal circulation was established routinely,circulatory arrest was induced when the nasopharyngeal temperature was reduced to 18℃, then the animals were resuscitated 90min later with extracorporeal circulation. SjvO2 was measured at 30min before circulatory arrest, 0min, 45min, 90min after circulatory arrest and at 60minutes after resuscitation. The ultrastructure changes in cerabral cortex were observed with transmission electron microscope (HITACHI 7500). The brain water content was also determined after the dogs were sacrificed. Results SjvO2 had decreased obviously after circulatory arrest, attaining the lowest level in CA 90min.After resuscitation it increased again in both groups. The levels of SjvO2 in dogs of L-arginine pretreatment group were markedly higher than that of control group at 45min and 90min after circulatory arrest (P

The research of sleep staging is not only a basis of diagnosing sleep related diseases but also the precondition of evaluating sleep quality, and has important clinical significance. In recent years, the research of automatic sleep staging based on computer has become a hot spot and got some achievements. The basic knowledge of sleep staging and electroencephalogram (EEG) is introduced in this paper. Then, feature extraction and pattern recognition, two key technologies for automatic sleep staging, are discussed in detail. Wavelet transform and Hilbert-Huang transform, two methods for feature extraction, are compared. Artificial neural network and support vector machine (SVM), two methods for pattern recognition are discussed. In the end, the research status of this field is summarized, and development trends of next phase are pointed out.
Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Neural Networks (Computer) ; Sleep Stages ; Support Vector Machine ; Wavelet Analysis

Objective To evaluate the efficiency and safety of transurethral plasmakinetic enucleation of prostate(PKEP) in the treatment of patients with benign prostate hyperplasia(BPH) after transrectal prostate biopsy(TRPB).Methods A total of 88 BPH patients who underwent PKEP in our hospital during Jan.2012 to May 2015 were retrospectively analyzed and followedup.38 patients underwent TRPB before PKEP were defined as TRPB group,and 50 patients underwent PKEP with no TRPB were defined as control group.The baseline data,perioperative data and postoperative follow-up outcomes were recorded and compared between the two groups.Results The mean age of the 88 patients were 69.7 years.Compared with control group,TRPB group showed that age was younger(t=2.62,P＜ 0.05)and prostate specific antigen(PSA) level was higher(t=13.64,P＜0.01).Operation duration was longer in TRPB group than in control group (93.6 ± 31.0) min vs.(77.9 ± 17.3) min (t =2.6 4,P ＜ 0.05).There were no significant differences in the preoperative data,blood loss,continuous bladder irrigation duration after operation and period of catheterization between two groups (all P ＞ 0.05).Trans-operative time was significantly shortened when the time interval between TRPB and PKEP is more than 4 weeks(P＜ 0.01),while blood loss was similar in the two groups(P＞ 0.0 5).There were no adverse events of blood transfusion,transurethral resection syndrome and injury of bladder or rectal in both two groups.There were no significant differences in maximum flow rate(Qmax),international prostate symptom score(IPSS) or quality of life(QOL) scores between the two groups at 3,6 and 12 months of follow up(all P＞ 0.05).Conclusions PKEP after TRPB is a safe and effective treatment for BPH patient.When the time interval between TRPB and PKEP is more than 4 weeks,the performing of PKEP operation would reduce the difficulty of operative procedure and increase the safety.

Objective: To investigate whether Vigconic VI-28 capsule, a formulated traditional Chinese medicine containing radix Ginseng, cornu cervi pantotrichum and semen cuscutae, can assist tumor chemotherapy in a mouse model. Methods: Female C57BL/6 mice were s. c. injected with viable Lewis lung cancer ( LLC) cells (106 cells/mouse) . The mice were then treated with cyclosposphamide (Cyp, 40 mg/kg bodyweight, once every other day). One group was intra-gastrically given 2% VI-28 (0.5 ml/mouse, every other day) during the course of the chemotherapy. By day 28, the mice were sacrificed and their thymic indices and tumor indices were calculated and compared. Splenocytes were collected for analysis of their immunological status. Histological study was carried to examine the solid tumors. Results: Fourteen days after the injection of LLC cells, solid tumors developed in most of the animals, reaching 1 ~ 1.8 cm diameters by 28 th day Compared with mice of the LCC + Cyp group, thymus glands from the LLC + Cyp + VI-28 group were significantly heavier. Splenocytes of the same group responded better to ConA stimulation in vitro. Histochemical examination of the tumor tissues revealed that tumors of the Cyp + VI-28 group were better differentiated (less aggressive) than that of the Cyp group. Conclusion: Vigconic VI-28 capsule can promote recovery of immune system in mice undergoing chemotherapy and help Cyp to control the growth of tumor cells in vivo.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the in vitro transdermal absorption properties of galangin and effects of different pene-tration enhancers on its transdermal behaviors,and provide reference for developing skin preparations using galangin as APIs in the treatment of vitiligo. METHODS:HPLC was used to determine the galangin content. Using cumulative permeation rate (Q) and the transdermal rate(J)of galangin as indexes,the effect of absorption of receiving solution [20%,40% polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG400)solution and 30% ethanol solution] and rotating rate(200,300,400 r/min)on galangin in complete skin of mice were investigated,as well as the azone(1%,3%,5%)and propylene glycol(10%,20%,40%)alone or combination on its penetra-tion promotion. And the transdermal properties of galangin in complete skin,exfoliating skin,dermis skin of rats and mice were de-tected. RESULTS:The best permeability of complete skin of mice showed in 40% PEG400 solution at rotating speed of 300 r/min with 5% azone alone,J was 3.2570 μg/(cm2·h). Js of complete skin,exfoliating skin,dermis skin of mice were 2.7199,34.016, 33.874 μg/(cm2·h),respectively;and those of rats were 0.4996,9.5124,17.406 μg/(cm2·h). CONCLUSIONS:Galangin can penetrate the complete skin of mice and rats,however,the penetration quantity is far lower than exfoliating skin and dermis skin.