This study was aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Self Rate Health Assessment Questionnaire (TCM-SRHAQ). A total of 859 middle age and aged cases were enrolled in a cross-sectional study, which were evaluated by the questionnaire. The salivary level of ɑ-amylase was tested at the same time. The results showed that the split-half reliability coefficient was 0.91, which can highly differentiate the health level of the crowd. The spearman correlation coefficients between items in the “spleen deficiency” sub-scale were all higher than 0.3. While the correlation coefficients between items were less than 0.25. Salivary level of ɑ-amylase was used as indicator. The “spleen deficiency” sub-scale showed high validity in identifying spleen-qi deficiency people from healthy people. It was concluded that TCM-SRHAQ showed good reliability and validity in this study, which indicated it can be used as a valuable measurement for assessing different types of health status, especially the spleen-qi deficiency type.

Objective:To investigate the anti-inflammation,analgesia and ulcer healing promotion of Zhenbing Koukuining tab-lets. Methods:The anti-inflammatin,analgesia and ulcer healing promotion of the preparation was respectively observed in the croton oil-induced auricular edema in mice,acetic acid-induced writhing in mice and acetic acid-induced oral ulcer in golden hamsters. Re-sults:The tablets could obviously alleviate the auricular edema(P<0. 01)and reduce the writhing times in mice(P<0. 05),and nar-row the oral ulcer(P<0. 01 or P<0. 05)and inhibit the inflammation reaction in golden hamsters. Conclusion:Zhenbing Koukuining tablets have anti-inflammatory,analgesia and ulcer healing promotion effects.

Objective To evaluate the targeted killing of malignant melanoma cells by aclarubicin liposomes conjugated with vascular endothelial growth factor(ADM-VEGF-SSL)in vitro.Metheds To detect the binding abilitv of liposomes to malignant melanoma(MM)cells,the human malignant melanoma cell line A375 was cultured in the presence of ADM-VEGF-3H-SSL or ADM-3H-SSL for 2 days followed by the detection of radioactivity of these cells.Then.A375 cells were cultured with various concentrations(0.01,0.1,1,10,100 mol/L)of ADM-VEGF-SSL,ADM-SSL or free ADM for 48 hours in the 48-hour cytotoxity test,or for 0.5 hour followed by another 48-hour culture in drug-free medium in the 0.5-hour cytotoxity test.After that,MTT assay was used to detect the survival rate of these cells.Results ADM-VEGF-SSL could specifically bind to and kill A375 cells.The binding rate of ADM-VEGF-SSL was 2.15 folds as high as that of ADM-SSL.The survival rate of A375 cells after being treated with ADM-VEGF-SSL for 48 hour was similar to that with flee ADM(P＞0.05).but lower than that with ADM-SSL(P＜0.05),while the survival rate of melanocytes treated with ADM-VEGF-SSL was higher than that with free ADM or ADM-SSL(both P＜0.05).As shown by the 0.5-hour cytotoxity test.shortening the treatment course did not attenuate the effect of ADM-VEGF-SSL on A375 cells.Conclusions ADM-VEGF-SSL can specifically recognize A375 cells.efficiently deliver adriamycin into tumor cells,markedly inhibit the proliferation of A375 cells,and eventually,a targeted kill of these cells is realized.

Objective To study the relationship of symptoms of female gonococcal infections to Chlamydia trachomatis infection, serum sex hormone levels, etc. Methods A total of 136 gonorrhea female patients without obvious symptoms were recruited in this study together with 45 gonorrhea patients with obvious symptoms as the controls. Serum progesterone (P) and estradiol (E2) levels were measured by radio immunoassay (RIA). Cervical swabs were obtained from the subjects and eluted into isotonic saline solution, the elution was divided into 2 portions and tested for the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β by ELISA and for the DNA of C. Trachomatis and N. Gonorrhea with PCR. Statistical analysis was carried out by SPSS for Windows (version 12.0). Results There was no statistical correlation between C. Trachomatis infection and asymptomatic status of female gonococcal infection (χ2 = 0.016, P > 0.05). However, the decrease in the level of TNF-α and IL-1β significantly correlated with the increase in serum progestogen (r = -0.8798, -0.8935, respectively, both P < 0.01). Conclusion The high serum level of progesterone may be associated with the asymptomatic status of gonococcal infection.

Objective To evaluate the effects of progesterone on polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)-mediated inflammatory responses to gonococcal infection. Methods Peripheral neutrophils were isolated from heparinized peripheral blood obtained from normal individuals, then divided into 4 groups: progesterone group (pretreated with progesterone only), gonococcus group (stimulated with gonococcal suspension), intervention group (pretreated with progesterone followed by stimuation with gonococcal suspension), and control group (receiving no pretreatment or stimulation). Real-time RT-PCR was conducted to detect the mRNA expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β)in neutrophils from all groups at 0, 3, 8, 12 and 24 hours after the last treatment, and iNOS protein levels were measured by Western-blot in gonococcus group and intervention group. Results Real-time RT-PCR indicated that the expression levels of iNOS, TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA increased in gonococcus group and intervention group, and reached their peak at 8 hours in gonococcus group, while no significant changes were noted in the above parameters in progesterone group or control group. Also, the level of iNOS, TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA was lower in intervention group than that in the gonococcus group (P ＜ 0.05). Western blot showed an elevation in iNOS protein expression in both gonococcus group and intervention group, and the former group was higher than the latter group in the parameter (P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions Progesterone can downregulate the expressions of iNOS, TNF-α and IL-1 β by PMNs, inhibit the PMN-induced inflammatory responses induced by gonococcal infection, which is likely to be associated with the asymptomatic gonococcal infection in women.

Objective To evaluate effects of the daily average temperature on the daily number of outpatient visits for eczema in Lanzhou city.Methods Clinical data were obtained from outpatients with eczema in the Department of Dermatology of 2 third-grade class-A hospitals in Lanzhou city from January 1st 2007 to December 31st 2015,and meteorological data during this period were also collected.Controlling for confounding factors like long-term trends and day of the week,a distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) fitted with quasi-Poisson link function was used to assess the effects of daily average temperature on the daily number of outpatient visits for eczema,and the analysis was stratified by season,age and gender.Results The exposure-response relationship between the daily average temperature and daily number of outpatient visits for eczema could be roughly described by a W-shaped curve.Stratification analysis showed that the effect of the daily average temperature on outpatient visits for eczema was strongest in autumn and winter,followed by summer,and weakest in spring.Low temperature may have lagged,cumulative and persistent effects on the daily number of outpatient visits for eczema,with the maximum relative risk (RR) value (1.12 [95％ CI:1.03-1.22]) observed at-9 ℃ on lag day 14.With a 1 ℃decrease in the temperature,16％ (RR =1.16,95％ CI:1.00-1.03),14％ (RR =1.14,95％ CI:1.02-1.26) and 13％ (RR =1.13,95％ CI:1.02-1.25) increases in the daily number of outpatient visits for eczema were observed in men,teenagers and middle-aged adults respectively (P ＜ 0.05).However,low temperature had no significant effects on outpatient visits for eczema among women or the elderly (P ＞0.05).The effect of high temperature usually occurred following exposure without lag periods,and was gradually weakened over lag time (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions In Lanzhou,the effect of daily average temperature on outpatient visits for eczema was strongest in autumn and winter.Changes of the daily temperature may be one of risk factors for eczema.Low temperature had lagged effects on the daily number of outpatient visits for eczema,and the effects were strongest on lag day 14.

OBJECTIVE:To study the improvement effect of lanthanum hydroxide on chronic renal failure (CRF) hyperphos-phatemia in rats. METHODS:CRF hyperphosphatemia rat model were induced and then randomly divided into model group,lan-thanum carbonate group [0.3 g/(kg·d)],calcium carbonate group [4.2 g/(kg·d)] and lanthanum hydroxide high-dose,medium-dose and low-dose groups [1.5,1,0.5 g/(kg·d)] with 10 rats in each group. They were given adenine 0.2 g/(kg·d)intragastrically in the morning,and then given relevant medicine intragastrically in the afternoon;a week later,they stopped taking adenine but con-tinued to take relevant medicine for 22 d. 10 normal rats were selected as normal control group. General examination was conduct-ed,and renal coefficient,serum contents of calcium,phosphorus,PTH,creatinine(Scr)and usea nitrogen(BUN)were detected after last medication as well as renal pathological change. RESULTS:Compared with normal control group,model group showed CRF sign,renal coefficient,the contents of phosphorus,PTH,Scr and BUN were increased,while the content of calcium was de-creased(P<0.01);renal section showed obvious pathological characteristics. Compared with model group,CRF sign of rats were improved in lanthanum carbonate group,calcium carbonate group and lanthanum hydroxide groups. The renal coefficient (except for lanthanum hydroxide high-dose group),serum contents of phosphorus(except for calcium carbonate group),PTH(except for lanthanum hydroxide low-dose group and calcium carbonate group),Scr(except for lanthanum hydroxide low-dose group and calci-um carbonate group)and BUN were all decreased,while serum content of calcium and calcium-phosphorucs product(only in calci-um carbonate group)was increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01). There was no statistical significance in other difference. The renal sec-tion pathological characteristics were improved. CONCLUSIONS:Lanthanum hydroxide can improve renal function and reduce the level of serum phosphorus in CRF hyperphosphatemia model rats.

Objective To evaluate the profile of proliferating T cells and dendritic cells ( DCs ) in the skin infiltrates of patients with mycosis fungoides ( MF) in different stages. Method Paraffin section and immunohistochemisty with monoclonal antibody were used to detect the expression of special antigen per section. Results The numbers of Ki-67+ cells and cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen ( CLA+) cells both increased significantly in the skin infiltrates of MF. Most Ki-67+ cells expressed both CLA and CD4 antigen. The number of Ki-67+ cells was significantly higher ( P

To compare the therapeutic effects of three different anti-fungal drugs (i.e., terbinafine, fluconazole and intraconazole) in the treatment of experimental vaginitis caused by Candida albicans (C. albicans) in mice, the fungal vaginitis model was established in female ICR mice by intravaginal inoculation of suspension of C. albicans after the animal had been pretreated with estradiol. Mice were divided at random into different groups and then respectively treated with terbinafine, fluconazole and intraconazole given by gastrogavage. The burden of the fungus in the vaginal lavage fluids in the mice of the different groups was measured dynamically at different time points after the beginning of the drug treatment. The fungal burdens in the vaginal lavage fluids taken at different time points from the mice treated with terbinafine were significantly higher than those taken at corresponding time points from mice treated with fluconazole or itraconazole (P<0.01). The fungal burdens in the vaginal lavage fluids taken from mice 1 week after the beginning of the treatment with terbinafine remained at a relatively high level. A dramatic drop in the fungal burden was noted in the vaginal lavage fluids taken on the 2nd day of the treatment from mice treated with itraconazole or fluconazole group and the fungal burden on the 3rd day of the treatment in these mice were at a very low level, suggesting that fluconazole or itraconazole were highly effective for the treatment. However, the difference in the therapeutic effect between the two drugs was not significant (P>0.05). Itraconazole or fluconazole, but not terbinafine, is very effective for the treatment of fungal vaginitis caused by C. albicans in mice.

Progesterone has nongenomic effects on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which is mediated by mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. This effect is supposed to have some potential association with asymptomatic gonococcal infections in women by immunological depression. In this study, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) challenged by gonococci were used to study the nongenomic effects of progesterone. The activation of iNOS was assessed by measuring [(3)H] L-arginine converses to [(3)H] L-citrulline, and the activity of MAPK was detected by Western blot. It was found that the activity of iNOS and the yields of NO were enhanced significantly in gonococci-challenged PMNs compared with the controls (P<0.01). Progesterone could repress the activation of iNOS through P38MAPK pathway within PMNs (P<0.05), which could be blocked by SB203580 (P<0.01), but not by actinomycin D (P>0.05). It was also found subsequently that in the serum specimens collected from gonococci-infected but asymptomatic women, the progesterone level was higher than that in women with severe symptoms (P<0.01). Moreover, the yield of NO had an inverse correlation with progesterone. With these results it suggested that the rapid nongenomic effects of progesterone may inhibit iNOS activation and NO yields mediated by P38MAPK pathways, which were supposed to be concerned with asymptomatic women infected with gonococci.