Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has drawn extensive attention from all over the world because of its promising therapeutic prospect. However, recent studies have found that VEGF may promote the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis. The article reviews the molecule characteristics, receptor, expression regulation and function of VEGF, as well as its relationship with atherosclerosis.

Objective: To develop 5-FU multiple emulsion entrapped into thermo-sensitive gel (5-FU-DEG) and detect the ab-sorption and transportation in Caco-2 cell monolayer model. Methods:The 5-FU multiple emulsion was prepared by a two-step emulsif-ying method. Poloxamer 407 (P407) was used as the thermo-sensitive material and sodium alginate (SA) was used as the bioadhesive material for the preparation of 5-FU-DEG. Caco-2 cell monolayer model was used to investigate the transportation and absorption of 5-FU. Results:5-FU-DEG gelled at the ambient temperature and turned into liquid below 10℃ The apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) of 5-FU-DEG was 1.47 ±0.11 ×10 -5(cm·s-1), which was about 6 times higher than that of 5-FU water solution(2.39 ± 0.21 ×10 -6 cm·s-1)(P<0.01). The cellular uptake rate of 5-FU-DEG was (17.1 ±0.24) %, which was 3.9 times greater than that of 5-FU water solution (4. 41 ± 0. 23%)(P<0. 01). Conclusion:5-FU-DEG can efficiently enhance the transportation and ab-sorption of drug in rectal site by using micro-emulsion technology combined with thermo-sensitive technology, which can be an effective rectal delivery system for 5-FU to treat rectal cancer.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of pramipexole versus fluoxetine in the treatment of depression in Parkinson's disease ( PD). Methods A randomized, clinical trial of pramipexole versus fluoxetine treatment for 12 weeks in 50 patients suffering from combined PD and depression was accomplished. The efficacy and safety assessments of the treatments were performed at different time points. Results For the intent-to-treat (ITT) population, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) scores decreased progressively in both the pramipexole and the fluoxetine group, and a between-time statistical analysis was significant for both groups. The efficacy proportion of patients who responded to the treatment, as defined by at least a 50% reduction in HAMD score, was 56. 0% in the pramipexole group versus 48. 0% in the fluoxetine group (χ~2 =0. 321, P>0. 05). Similarly, the proportion of patients who recovered, as defined by a final HAMD score ≤8, was 52. 0% in the pramipexole group versus 32. 0% in the fluoxetine group (χ~2 =2. 053, P>0. 05) , but the difference between the two treatments showed no statistical significance. At the endpoint, both the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) part Ⅱ and part Ⅲ subscores improved in the pramipexole group, by a mean of 2. 9±3. 7 (t= 2.366, P<0.05) and7.2±5.1 (t=2.654, P< 0.05), respectively, and the latter was significantly different from the change in this variable of the fluoxetine group (P<0. 05). Spearman analysis showed that no relationship between HAMD score and UPDRS Part II or Part III subscore. The findings for the per-protocol (PP) population were consistent with the above results, except that the proportion of patients who recovered in the pramipexole group was significantly larger than that in the fluoxetine group. The adverse events in both groups were mild dizziness, nausea and anorexia. No significant difference was found in the frequencies of the adverse events between the pramipexole and fluoxetine group. Conclusions Pramipexole is effective and safe in the treatment of Chinese PD patients combined with depression.

Objective To analyze the clinical and nursing care of peripartum reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS).Methods Thirty five cases with peripartum RPLS were retrospectively reviewed.Results All patients developed acutely,22.9％ in the antepartum period and 77.1％ in the postpartum period.The major clinical characteristics were headache (65.7％),seizures(62.9％),visual disturbances (54.3％),altered mental status (22.9％).The most common abnormality on neuro-imaging was edema predominantly involving the cortex and subcortical white matter in the posterior portions of the cerebral hemispheres,including the occipital lobes (77.1％),parietal lobes (65.7％),temporal lobes (28.6％) and frontal lobe (20.0％).MR diffusion-weighted imaging and ADC mapping revealed vasogenic edema.The treatments included aggressive blood pressure control and anticonvulsants with special nursing care.The clinical symptoms and the lesions on neuroimaging improved or resolved within 1 day to 2 months.Conclusions The prognosis for peripartum RPLS is ensured as long as the diagnosis is made properly and reasonable application of care program.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of standard dose prednisone(starting dose about 0.4 mg/kg bw) combined with glutamine(2 g/d) for Graves' ophthalmopathy(GO) after 131I treatment.Methods The prospective randomized controlled trial was performed and included 116 consecutive patients with mild-to-moderate GO or no active GO after 131I treatment,but with high risk factors.The experimental group(59 cases) started to take oral prednisone(0.44 ± 0.13)mg/kg at 2 d atter theatment,meanwhile replenishing glutamine,and prednisone was gradually decreased by 5mg per 2 weeks and stopped until 2 months;the control group(57 cases) received the initial dose prednisone(0.43± 0.14)mg/kg without replenishing glutamine,and the rest was same as the experimental group.The GO change and prednisone adverse reactions in 2,4,6 months after treatment were evalua ted in the two groups.Results The baseline characteristics had no significant difference between the two groups.In comparison of the experimental group and control group after 6-month treatment,the CAS score was (2.8 ± 0.8 vs.3.5 ± 0.9),exophthalmos degree was (19.6±8.1)mm vs.(21.7±3.0)mm,eyelid width was (11.3±2.9)mm vs.(13.8±3.1)mm,the improvement degree in the experimental group except for degree was superior to the control group (P＜0.01).No new onset GO or deterioation oc curred in the two groups;the experimental group had 42 cases(71.2 ％) of GO improvement and 17 cases(28.8 ％) of stability,while the control group had 39 cases(68.4％) of GO improvement and 18 cases(31.6％) of stability,and the curative effects had no sttis-tical difference between the two groups(P＞0.05).The side effects in the control group were more than those in the experimental group(63.1％ vs.30.5％,P＜0.05).the body mass increase was more obvious [(3.8±1.8) kg vs.(1.4±1.2)kg,P＜0.01],and SBP and DBP in the two groups were slightly increased[(10±4)mm Hg vs.(9±5)mm Hg P＞0.05].Conclusion Using the initial dose of oral prednisone(about 0.4 mg/kg) for 2 months and simultaneously replenishing glutamine (2 g/d)can effectively improve mild-moderate GO,and effectively reduce the adverse reactions of GC.However it is needed to extend the follow-up time to assess whether it can truly prevent the deterioration of GO,and to conduct a further study for the role of glutamine.

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of 99mTcO4- gastrointestinal imaging in the diagnosis of Meckel’s diverticulum in children. Methods The clinical data of 99mTcO4-imaging, surgery and pathological results of 95 children with gastrointestinal bleeding were retrospectively analyzed. Results Forty-four cases of 95 patients had positive ifnding of 99mTcO4-ectopic gastric mucous membrane imaging, and positive rate was 46.3%. In the positve cases 52.3%cases (23/44) were diagnosed of intestinal heterotopic gastric mucosa, 47.7%cases (21/44) were suspected of intestinal heterotopic gastric mucosa. The sex ratio (males to females) was 7.8:1. Thirty-seven positive cases underwent operation;among them, 35 cases were found to have Meckel’s diverticulum and 1 case had duplication of the digestive tract;Diverticulum lesion was not found in 1 case. The samples of 35 cases diagnosed surgically of Meckel’s diverticulum were examined by pathologic histology. All 35 cases were conifrmed as Meckel’s diverticulum and ectopic gastric mucosa epithelium, including 2 cases with ulcer formation, 1 case with small patches of pancreatic tissue, 1 case with ileocecal junction of suppurative enteritis and 1 case with chronic appendicitis. Conclusions 99mTcO4-radionuclide imaging technique is of high value for the non-invasive diagnosis of children’s Meckel’s diverticulum.

African swine fever virus(ASFV)I177L gene deletion vaccine is one of the key directions of African swine fever(ASF)live attenuated vaccine research and development.In order to effec-tively distinguish between the wild-type ASFV strain and the I177L gene-deleted strain,specific primers and probes were designed based on ASFV B646L and I177L genes,respectively.After screening and optimization,a duplex real-time PCR method was developed that can simultaneously detect these two genes.The results showed that ASFV B646L and I177L genes were detected spe-cifically and simultaneously by the method developed without cross-reactions with porcine circovir-us type 2,Seneca virus A,classical swine fever virus,foot-and-mouth disease virus,porcine respira-tory and reproductive syndrome virus.The detection limits of the duplex real-time PCR for recom-binant plasmids pUC57-B646L and pUC57-I177L were 1×103 copies/mL.The intra-and inter-as-say coefficients of variation were less than 4％,respectively.Detection of 122 pork and pork prod-ucts using the duplex real-time PCR developed and the real-time PCR recommended by WOAH showed that the coincidence rates of the two methods for B646L gene detection was 100％with two amplification curves appeared in the positive results of the established methods.The method established in this study can be used for the detection of ASFV I177L gene deletion strains,which provides technical support for ASF surveillance and epidemiological investigation.

Objective To observe the value of 5.0T MRI for quantifying proton density fat fraction(PDFF)of liver.Methods Liver chemical shift encoded(CSE)MR scanning were prospectively performed using 5.0T,3.0T and 1.5T scanner in 30 volunteers,respectively,and CSE-PDFF were measured.Then MR spectroscopy(MRS)were performed using 5.0T and 1.5T scanner,respectively,and MRS-PDFF were also measured.The consistency of liver PDFF measured on different images was observed,and the value of 5.0T MRI for liver PDFF was analyzed.Results The overall consistencies of liver CSE-PDFF measured with 5.0T,3.0T and 1.5T MR scanner were all good(all ICC＞0.75,all P＜0.001).The consistency of liver CSE-PDFF based on 5.0T and 3.0T,1.5T MR scanner were both good(ICC=0.989,0.992,both P＜0.001).The overall consistencies of CSE-PDFF based on 5.0T MR and MRS-PDFF based on 5.0T and 1.5T MR were both good(both ICC＞0.75,both P＜0.001).CSE-PDFF had good consistency with MRS-PDFF based on same 5.0T MR scanner(ICC=0.988,P＜0.001),and CSE-PDFF based on 5.0T had good consistency with MRS-PDFF based on 1.5T MR scanner(ICC=0.978,P＜0.001).Conclusion 5.0T MRI had high value for quantifying liver PDFF.

Objective To observe the consistency of 5.0T and 1.5T MR spectroscopy(MRS)for quantitating proton density fat fraction(PDFF)of liver.Methods Lipid emulsion models with lipid content of 0,5％,10％,15％,20％,25％and 30％were prepared.1H-MRS were collected using 5.0T and 1.5T MR scanners,respectively,and PDFF were obtained with jMRUI software.Totally 23 people,including 11 cases of fatty liver and 12 healthy adults were prospectively collected,and volume of interest(VOI)in the liver were selected to acquire 1H-MRS,and PDFF were obtained with jMRUI software and corresponding workstation,respectively.The consistencies of PDFF measured with different methods were analyzed.Results PDFF of lipid emulsion models with lipid content of 0,5％,10％,15％,20％,25％and 30％measured with jMRUI software and workstations based on 5.0T and 1.5T 1H-MRS all had good consistencies and being positively correlated,so were PDFF of liver tissue measured with jMRUI software and workstations based on 5.0T and 1.5T 1H-MRS.Conclusion 5.0T and 1.5T 1H-MRS had good consistency for quantitating liver PDFF.Measuring liver PDFF with workstation in clinical practice was helpful to simplifying workflow.

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the deadly diseases caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), which presents a significant public health challenge. Treatment of TB relies on the combination of several anti-TB drugs to create shorter and safer regimens. Therefore, new anti-TB agents working by different mechanisms are urgently needed. FtsZ, a tubulin-like protein with GTPase activity, forms a dynamic Z-ring in cell division. Most of FtsZ inhibitors are designed to inhibit GTPase activity. In Mtb, the function of Z-ring is modulated by SepF, a FtsZ binding protein. The FtsZ/SepF interaction is essential for FtsZ bundling and localization at the site of division. Here, we established a yeast two-hybrid based screening system to identify inhibitors of FtsZ/SepF interaction in M. tuberculosis. Using this system, we found compound T0349 showing strong anti-Mtb activity but with low toxicity to other bacteria strains and mice. Moreover, we have demonstrated that T0349 binds specifically to SepF to block FtsZ/SepF interaction by GST pull-down, fluorescence polarization (FP), surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and CRISPRi knockdown assays. Furthermore, T0349 can inhibit bacterial cell division by inducing filamentation and abnormal septum. Our data demonstrated that FtsZ/SepF interaction is a promising anti-TB drug target for identifying agents with novel mechanisms.