To evaluate the effects of Yisui Shengxue Granules on expressions of alpha-hemoglobin stabilizing protein (AHSP) and erythroid transcription factor GATA-1 mRNAs in bone marrow of patients with beta-thalassemia, and to explore its possible molecular mechanism.

Objective To learn and evaluate the present prescriptions from outpatient departments of 21 public hospitals in Songjiang district,and to promote rational drug use.Methods A total of 75,600 outpatient prescriptions from 21 public hospitals in Songjing district were collected monthly from January 2008 to October 2010 and analyzed statistically using indexes for prescription evaluation.Results of the 75,600 prescriptions,the types of drugs in each prescription averaged 2.35,the ratio of antibiotics use and injection agents use were 35.77％ and 17.40％,respectively.The percentage of essential drugs without added profit accounted for 41.91％ of the total drug use,and the average drug cost per prescription was RMB 85.99.Comparison of indexes for prescription evaluation showed that the ratio of antibiotics use and injection agents use as well as the average cost per prescription in secondary hospitals were significantly higher that those in community health centers (P＜0.01),while the percentage of essential drugs without added profit and the average number of drugs in each prescription were statistically smaller than those in community health centers (P＜0.01).Conclusion Drug use in outpatient departments of 21 public hospitals was rational in general,especially noteworthy is the significant improvement made at community health centers in recent three years.

BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that the vacuum sealing drainage technology can effectively promote the wound healing, and it has a wide prospect of clinical application, but there are few reports addressing the
treatment of diabetic foot.
OBJECTIVE:To discuss the clinical effect of vacuum sealing drainage technology in the treatment of diabetic foot wounds.
METHODS: Sixty diabetic foot patients were randomly divided into two groups: traditional treatment group,
regulating blood sugar level, dressing and traditional debridement; vacuum sealing drainage group, conventional treatment combined with the vacuum sealing drainage technology. The clinical efficacy of two treatments for
diabetic foot was evaluated.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the traditional treatment group, the vacuum sealing drainage
showed better outcomes in switching frequency, stable blood sugar control, preparation time, wound healing time and cure rate (P < 0.05). It indicates that the vacuum sealing drainage technology in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers can resolute wound inflammation, stimulate the growth of granulation, create a favorable surgical condition for secondary skin grafting or flap coverage, significantly shorten the treatment time, and exhibit better curative effects than the traditional treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of Yisui Shengxue Granule (YSSXG), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, in treating beta-thalassemia. METHODS: A randomized single-blinded trial was designed. Sixty patients with beta-thalassemia were divided into two groups: 30 patients in YSSXG-treated group and 30 in placebo parallel-control group. The patients in the two groups were assigned to receive either YSSXG or placebo for three months. The patients' symptoms and their blood indexes such as hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC), reticulocytes (Ret) and fetal hemoglobin (HBF) were examined before and after the treatment. Meanwhile, the liver and spleen were examined with B-mode ultrasound. RESULTS: In the YSSXG-treated group, the blood indexes (Hb, RBC, Ret and HBF) and the symptoms of the patients were improved after three-month treatment, with statistical significance compared to those before treatment (P<0.01); hepatauxe and splenomegaly were also relieved (P<0.05) and no adverse reactions were monitored. In the placebo parallel-control group, no significant improvement of the blood indexes and symptoms, as well as the hepatauxe and splenomegaly had been found (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: YSSXG demonstrates obvious clinical efficacy and no adverse reactions in treating beta-thalassemia.

Objective To evaluate the use of diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI)for early detection of tumor response to Angiostatin-Endostatin(Statin-AE)fusion gene therapy in a rat C6 glioma model.Methods Fifty male wistar rats with C6 tumor cells implanted into the striatum were examined by a 3.0T MR scanner,then the rats beating tmors were divided into two groups,treatment group and control group.Rats in the treatment group received 107 plaque forming unit(pfu)recombinant herps simplex viral (R-HSV)mediated Statin-AE fusion gene therapy on day 7,and then the tumors were conformed on MRI.Conventional MR and DWI examination were acquired on 1,2,3 weeks after implantation with a 5-inch surface coil.Two(1 w),eight(2 w)and all the residual rats(3 w)of each group were sacrificed to perform the histopathological examination after each MBI examination.Pretreatment and post treatment tumor volulnes and apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)values were calculated.Rank sum test and t test were employed for statistical analysis.Results On MRI,43 rats demonstrated tumors on day 7 with a successful rate of 86%,On week 2,the tumor volumes of the controh and treatment group were 90.6 and 91.64 mm3,with no significant difference(Z=-0.14,P＞0.05).On week 3,the tumor volumes of the controls and treatment group were 156.64 and 29.64 mm3,and a significant difference was observed(Z=-3.45,P＜0.01).On week 2.the ADC values of the tumor centers of the treatment group and the control group were (1.20±0.25)×10-3 and(0.99±0.08)×10-3 mm2/s,and the values of the tumor peripheral parts of the two groups were(1.00±0.25)×10-3 and(0.83±0.12)×10-3mm2/s,the ADC values of both tumor centers and peripheral parts of the treatment group were significantly higher than those of the control group (t=-0.82 and-0.46,P＜0.05).On week 3,the ADC values of the tumor centers of the treatment group and the control group were(0.92±0.21)× 10-3 and(0.99±0.09)×10-3mm2/s,and the values of the tumor peripheral parts of the two groups were(0.81±0.19)×10-3 and(0.78±0.11)×10-3 mm2/a,there were no statisfical difference between the two groups(t=0.82,and-0.46,P＜0.05).HE stained slices showed more prominent tumor interstifial edenla.swelling and death of tumor cells in the treated rats than the controls.Conclusions Combination of conventional MRI and DWI can be powerful to monitor tumor progression and therapy effecL Conventional MRI showed that the therapy slow the tumor progression in size while DWI demonstrated the tumor response even earlier than size change.DWI has potential use forthe detection of early response to antiangiogenic gene therapy.

Objective To retrospectively evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of brentuximab vedotin(BV) combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of malignant lymphoma. Methods We collected the data of 32 lymphoma patients with CD30-positive status, including 14 cases of Hodgkin's lymphomas, 2 cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, and 16 cases of mature T/NK cell lymphomas. Chemotherapy combined with BV was administered to all patients for a minimum of two cycles. The efficacy of the treatment was evaluated according to Lugano criteria every two cycles. Results Complete response rate and overall response rate after four cycles of treatment were 22% and 50%, respectively. Sixteen cases (50.0%) had grades 1 and 2 toxicity, and 16 cases (50.0%) had grade 3 toxicity or higher. The most common adverse events were neutropenia (50.0%), pneumonia (46.9%), and anemia (43.8%). The most common grade 3 or higher adverse events were pneumonia (18.8%) and febrile neutropenia (12.5%). Four patients discontinued brentuximab vedotin because of severe adverse events. Conclusion BV is effective in treating relapsed and refractory CD30- positive Hodgkin's lymphoma and peripheral T-cell lymphoma, and its overall safety is acceptable.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical and genetic characteristics of a large family with late-onset, progressive autosomal dominant non-syndromic hearing loss.

METHODSCollections of detail history hereditary features, physical and audiological examination were performed. After mutation screening of GJB2, SLC26A4, MTRNR1 (12SrRNA) genes by Sanger sequencing, the proband was investigated by targeted next-generation sequencing of 79 deafness genes.

RESULTSThis family included seven generations and 73 members. Eleven persons with hearing loss and 11 normal-hearing persons participated in this study. All affected members but one exhibited late-onset, progressive non-syndromic sensorineural hearing loss; the ages of onset were between 9 and 30 years. Mutation screening by sanger-sequencing and targeted next-generation sequencing excluded the possibility of pathogenic mutations within known deafness gene.

CONCLUSIONSA Chinese family with late-onset progressive non-syndromic sensorineural hearing loss was investigated clinically and genetically. By candidate gene approach and targeted next-generation sequencing, this family was preliminary proved to be caused by unknown deafness gene.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; Connexins ; Deafness ; Hearing Loss ; genetics ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Humans ; Mutation

OBJECTIVETo evaluate a microarray-based mutation screening method for genetic deafness and its application in prenatal diagnosis.

METHODSMutation screening of common deafness genes was performed in pregnant women and volunteers spouses. Nine common mutations in four major deafness genes, GJB2, GJB3, SLC26A4 and mitochondrial 12S rRNA, were detected simultaneously by a microarray-based method. Genetic counseling was given based on their testing results.

RESULTS5.11% of pregnant women carried at least one mutation. Among them, seven carried mutation in the mitochondria 12S rRNA gene and were offered aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity warning. For other mutation carriers of GJB2 or SLC26A4 genes, additional mutation screening was performed in their husbands by direct sequencing. A total of 20 couples were at risk of giving birth to children with genetic deafness. Of five couples who selected to undergo prenatal diagnostic testing of the fetus, four were diagnosed as wild type or heterozygous for the tested genes and one as p.V37I/c.235delC compound heterozygous for GJB2.

CONCLUSIONSDNA microarray is a quick, easy and reliable method to screen mutations in genetic deafness genes. Application of this method in prenatal screening and diagnosis might effectively reduce the occurrence of genetic deafness.

Adult ; Connexins ; Deafness ; diagnosis ; genetics ; prevention & control ; Female ; Genetic Counseling ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Mutation ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods ; Young Adult