Objective To observe the anti-fibrosis therapeutic effect and mechanism of Qingshen granule for treatment of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) accompanied by damp-heat syndrome.Methods Sixty-eight patients with CRF accompanied by damp-heat syndrome were randomly divided into a control group and a observation group, and the study was completed only in 61 patients, 31 in the control group and 30 in the observation group. Thirty subjects having taken physical health examination were assigned in a healthy control group. All the patients in both treatment groups were treated with conventional western medical therapy and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) retention enema, and for patients in observation group, Qingshen granule was given additionally, 1 bag (10 g) thrice a day taken orally. The therapeutic course was 8 weeks. The clinical therapeutic effect, the levels of serum creatinine (SCr), the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), serum interleukin-17 (IL-17), collagen type Ⅲ (Col-Ⅲ) and nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were measured before and after treatment in the two treatment groups, and the above results were compared with those in healthy control group.Results Clinically, the total effective rates of the disease and of the TCM syndrome in observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (86.67% vs. 58.06%, 83.33% vs. 45.16%, bothP < 0.01). In the observation group, the level of SCr was obviously lower, and the level of eGFR was markedly higher after treatment, and compared with the control group, the changes in above data after treatment in observation group were more significant [SCr (μmol/L): 250.62±164.97 vs. 393.72±183.64, eGFR (mL·min-1·1.73 m-2): 33.42±17.24 vs. 39.72±23.85, bothP < 0.05]. After treatment, the levels of serum IL-17, Col-Ⅲ and NF-κB p65 in PBMC were obviously lowered in both treatment groups compared with those before treatment, the therapeutic effect in observation group being superior to that in the control group [IL-17 (ng/L): 17.47±8.87 vs. 25.51±16.69, Col-Ⅲ (μg/L): 17.06±8.76 vs. 23.77±10.44, NF-κB p65 (μg/L): 0.58±0.34 vs. 0.83±0.30, allP < 0.05].Conclusion The Qingshen granule can ameliorate the clinical symptoms, improve renal function, decrease the levels of serum IL-17, Col-Ⅲ and NF-κB p65 in PBMC, intervene renal fibrosis in patients with CRF and damp-heat syndrome, ultimately delaying the progress of CRF.

Objective To use diagnosis related group (DRGs ) for the first time in overall evaluation of inpatient service performance evaluation of major diagnostic category (MDC)for all the Beijing municipal hospitals,and recommend how to strengthen Beijing municipal hospitals system in diagnosis and treatment ability of main diseases and improve inpateint service performance.Methods BJ-DRGs burster software was used to analyze the first page information of the medical records of cases discharged from all the Beijing municipal hospitals between 2012 and 2014 to determine the weight of each DRG,and based on such weight the related indicators of such hospitals and central hospitals in 2012, 2013,2014 were compared and analyzed.Results Improvements were found in such indices as diagnosis and treatment difficulty of 50% MDC,time efficiency of 81.8% MDC,cost efficiency of 77.3% MDC, and general capacity of 54.5% MDC for all Beijing municipal hospitals.In addition,the municipal hospitals were found superior to the central hospitals in such indices as cost efficiency of 68.2% MDC, and time efficiency of 59.1% MDC.On the other hand however,they were found inferior to the central hospitals in such indices as diagnosis and treatment difficulty of 72.7% MDC,and the comprehensive ability index of the two systems were found equivalent.Another finding was that there was no obvious improvement of the coverage of disease types at major tertiary hospitals in Beijing for the past three years.Municipal hospitals of greater contribution of MDC weight were highly consistent with the hospitals assigned with national key projects of disciplinary developments. Conclusion The comprehensive evaluation results of inpatient service performance of main diseases at Beijing’s municipal hospitals based on DRGs system,showed that the Beijing’s hospital authority had played an important role in improving inpatient service performance especially in reducing the burden of patients,improving the service efficiency through increasing government investment,optimizing service organization and implementation of performance management.But it also suggested that measures such as collectivize construction and management should be taken to improve municipal hospitals’linical specialty ability, improve the MDC diagnosis and treatment difficulty,and resume their functions of tertiary hospitals.

Building a better performance evaluation system for public hospitals is key to the ongoing health reform. To this end, Beijing Municipal Administration of Hospitals reformed the performance evaluation system of public hospitals in Beijing based on its experiences during 2012 to 2014. This reform integrates the target tasks,day-to-day performance,personalized performance,Party and people management performance,and mandatory plan performance as one evaluation integrity,forming a new public hospitals’performance evaluation system of multi-dimension and multi-level.This approach can effectively integrate diversified performance management objectives and overcome key difficulties in performance management,assisting further promotion of the approach,facilitating government objectives in managing the medical sector,promoting healthy development of hospitals,and exploring how to deepen the public hospital reform in terms of separating ownership from operations.

PLZ-NPs (PNS-lipid-zein nanoparticles) prepared by co-assembly of Panax notoginseng saponins, lecithin, β-sitosterol and zein were applied for in vitro cell experiment and oral gavage to study the protective effect of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats.PLZ-NPs were characterized by Malvin-particle size analyzer and transmission electron microscope (TEM), respectively. The toxicity of PLZ-NPs and free carrier were evaluated by MTT, and the uptake of nanoparticles in Caco-2 cells was analyzed by laser confocal and flow cytometry. The cerebral ischemia reperfusion rat model was established by MCAO method and then be given samples by gavage for 3 days. The brain tissues were taken to stain by 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazole chloride (TTC) and the biochemical indicators of MDA, inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α, apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl-2 from the harvested brain tissues were detected to evaluate the protective effect of PNS in PLZ-NPs on cerebral ischemia reperfusion. The particle size, PDI, and zeta potential of formed PLZ-NPs were (116.4 ± 0.81) nm, 0.048 and -(31.5 ± 0.31) mV, respectively. The results of MTT showed that the zein lipoprotein carrier was non-toxic to Caco-2 cells. The results of laser confocal and flow cytometry showed that FITC uptake of nanoparticles could be significantly improved in Caco-2 cells.The uptake from the nanoparticles at 4h was 1.76 times of that of the free FITC group.Compared with the model group, the TTC staining images of free drug PNS group and PLZ-NPs group showed certain reduction in the white infarct area.The contents of MDA, IL-1β, TNF-α and Bax were significantly decreased, while the content of Bcl-2 was significantly increased. Furthermore, all parameters of PLZ-NPs group showed better results than those of PNS group, and there was a significant difference (P < 0.05). All results indicated that the prepared PLZ-NPs had good stability and biological safety, and could significantly increase the uptake in intestinal epithelial cells, and effectively protect against the damage caused by cerebral ischemia reperfusion in rats.

Insufficient bone quantity in the posterior region of the maxilla is one of the difficulties for dental implant placement. Maxillary sinus augmentation is considered to be a reliable treatment to solve the problem of insufficient bone quantity. With the increase of researches on maxillary sinus elevation, the debate over osteogenesis potential of Schneiderian membrane is getting more attention. Therefore, this article will review the current research on osteogenic potential of the Schneiderian membrane and its influence factors.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupoint pressing acupuncture combined with moxibustion at Baihui acupoint on infantile cold and nasal obstruction caused by exogenous wind and cold. Methods:This study included a total of 120 children with exogenous wind and cold-induced infantile cold and nasal obstruction who were treated at the Jinhua Maternal & Child Health Care Hospital from February 2021 to May 2022. They were divided into three groups using a random number table method, namely the acupoint pressing acupuncture group, the moxibustion group, and the combined therapy group, each containing 40 children. Based on routine treatment, children in the acupoint pressing acupuncture group received acupoint ( Yintang, Shuangyingxiang, Shuangbitong) pressing acupuncture treatment, while those in the moxibustion group underwent mild moxibustion at Baihui acupoint, and those in the combined therapy group underwent acupoint ( Yintang, Shuangyingxiang, Shuangbitong) pressing acupuncture Baihui combined with mild moxibustion at Baihui acupoint. The clinical efficacy of each group was evaluated. At 2, 24, 48, and 72 hours after treatment, differences in nasal congestion symptom scores were compared among the three groups. Sleep quality was also compared among the three groups before and after treatment. Results:The response rate in the combined therapy group was 92.5% (37/40), which was significantly higher than 75% (30/40) in the acupoint pressing acupuncture group and 65% (26/40) in the moxibustion group ( χ2 = 4.50, 9.04, both P < 0.05). At 2, 24, 48, and 72 hours after treatment, the nasal congestion symptom score in the combined therapy group was (2.05 ± 0.55) points, (1.80 ± 0.64) points, (1.33 ± 0.59) points, and (0.90 ± 0.18) points, respectively, while it was (2.43 ± 0.59) points, (2.15 ± 0.57) points, (1.73 ± 0.84) points, and (1.18 ± 0.80) points, respectively, in the acupoint pressing acupuncture group, and (2.50 ± 0.59) points, (2.13 ± 0.78) points, (1.88 ± 0.81) points, and (1.45 ± 0.81) points, respectively, in the moxibustion group. At the above-mentioned time points, the nasal congestion symptom score was statistically significant among the three groups ( F = 3.15, 9.27, 16.17, 20.22, all P < 0.05). After treatment, daytime sleep duration and nocturnal sleep duration in the combined therapy group were (3.41 ± 0.31) hours and (12.36 ± 1.17) hours, respectively, which were significantly longer than (2.95 ± 1.07) hours and (11.33 ± 1.38) hours in the acupoint pressing acupuncture group and (2.93 ± 0.98) hours and (11.21 ± 1.93) hours in the moxibustion group ( F = 6.37, 12.31, both P < 0.05). Nocturnal wake time, the number of night wakings, and sleep onset time in the combined therapy group were (18.74 ± 2.21) minutes, (1.64 ± 0.18) times, and (15.43 ± 2.03) minutes, respectively, which were significantly shorter or less than (21.13 ± 3.78) minutes, (2.15 ± 0.66) times, and (17.63 ± 5.24) minutes in the acupoint pressing acupuncture group, and (20.53 ± 2.90) minutes, (2.11 ± 0.32) times, and (17.22 ± 2.88) minutes in the moxibustion group ( F = 15.93, 15.36, 10.11, all P < 0.05). There was a significant difference in sleep quality score among the three groups ( F = 23.45, P < 0.05). Conclusion:The combination of acupoint pressing acupuncture and moxibustion at Baihui acupoint is highly effective against infantile cold and nasal obstruction caused by exogenous wind and cold. The combined therapy can alleviate the symptoms of nasal congestion in children and improve sleep quality.

OBJECTIVETo identify pathogenic mutation of the TSC1 and TSC2 genes in a patient with tuberous sclerosis.

METHODSPeripheral venous blood samples and clinical data of a pregnant woman with tuberous sclerosis and 4 family members (parents, uncle and husband) were collected. Genomic DNA was extracted. All coding exons of the TSC1 and TSC2 genes and their flanking intronic sequences were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and subjected to direct sequencing.

RESULTSThe patient has presented facial angiofibroma and prefrons fibrous plaque for 20 years, and lumbar connective tissue nevus for 10 years. She also had mental retardation but no epilepsy. A novel frame-shift mutation c.4258-4261delTCAG was detected in exon 34 of the TSC2 gene, which had led to a premature stop codon TAG after the 55th amino acids. The same mutation was not found in the unaffected family members and 100 unrelated healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONThe novel frame-shifting mutation c.4258-4261delTCAG (p.Ser1420GlyfsX55) in the TSC2 gene may be responsible for the disease in the patient.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; China ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Pregnancy ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; Young Adult

Objective:To investigate the effect of modified Shenling Baizhu San on the pathological changes and extracellular matrix (ECM) in rats with peritoneal fibrosis induced by peritoneal dialysate fluid (PDF) with different sugar concentration and its mechanism.Methods:Seventy male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into control group, different sugar content PDF model groups and corresponding traditional Chinese medicine intervention groups, with 10 rats in each group. Peritoneal fibrosis model was reproduced by intraperitoneal injection of 100 mL·kg -1·d -1 PDF containing 1.5%, 2.5% and 4.25% sugar once a day for 8 weeks. The rats in the control group were given the same amount of normal saline. The rats in the traditional Chinese medicine intervention groups were treated with gavage of 10 mL/kg of modified Shenling Baizhu San (containing 2.014 g crude drug per liter) immediately after modeling. The PDF model groups and the control group were given the same amount of normal saline by gavage. After 8 weeks, the peritoneal ultrafiltration volume of rats in each group was measured. The peritoneal tissues were collected and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE), and the structural changes and thickness of the parietal peritoneum were observed under a light microscope. After Masson staining, the deposition of collagen fibers was observed under a light microscope. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expressions of E-cadherin,?α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Vimentin, the main components of ECM in parietal peritoneum. The positive expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were detected by immunohistochemical staining. Results:Compared with the control group, PDF with different sugar contents could induce peritoneal fibrosis in rats, and the degree of fibrosis was gradually aggravated with the increase of sugar content, which was manifested as peritoneal thickening, increased collagen fiber deposition, decreased peritoneal ultrafiltration volume, down-regulated expressions of E-cadherin and MMP-9 in peritoneal tissue, and up-regulated expressions of α-SMA, Vimentin, TIMP-1 and TGF-β1, and the pathological changes and ECM accumulation in peritoneal tissues were more serious in 4.25% PDF model group. After the intervention of modified Shenling Baizhu San, compared with the corresponding PDF model groups, the peritoneal fibrosis of rats was improved to varying degrees, and the effect of the 4.25% PDF+traditional Chinese medicine intervention group was more significant, the parietal peritoneum was significantly thinner (μm: 101.86±16.01 vs. 140.65±10.13, P < 0.05), collagen fiber deposition was significantly reduced, peritoneal ultrafiltration volume was significantly increased (mL: -0.01±3.45 vs. -3.53±1.84, P < 0.05), the expressions of E-cadherin and MMP-9 in peritoneal tissues were significantly up-regulated [E-cadherin protein (E-cadherin/β-actin): 0.84±0.08 vs. 0.28±0.05, MMP-9 ( A value): 0.60±0.15 vs. 0.37±0.01, both P < 0.05], and the expressions of α-SMA, Vimentin, TIMP-1 and TGF-β1 were significantly down-regulated [α-SMA protein (α-SMA/β-actin): 0.36±0.08 vs. 1.05±0.09, Vimentin protein (Vimentin/β-actin): 0.53±0.07 vs. 1.19±0.04, TIMP-1 ( A value): 0.49±0.06 vs. 0.87±0.02, TGF-β1 ( A value): 0.67±0.04 vs. 0.89±0.10, all P < 0.05]. Conclusions:The degree of peritoneal fibrosis gradually increased with the increase of PDF sugar content in rats. Modified Shenling Baizhu San can improve peritoneal fibrosis induced by PDF with different sugar contents in rats, and the mechanism is related to the changes in the expression of fibrosis markers and ECM accumulation.

Objective To investigate gender specific differences in the association between stressful life events (SLEs) and depression in Chinese adults aged 30-79 years. Methods In the baseline survey during 2004-2008, the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) recruited 512891 men and women aged 30-79 years from 10 areas of China. Detailed information on SLEs, including demographic and socio-economic status, smoking, alcohol drinking and history of chronic disease, as well as depression symptoms and major depressive episodes (MDEs) in preceding 12 months, was collected by using standardized questionnaire. Multinomial logistic regression model was employed to estimate the relative risk ratio (RRR) and 95%CI of SLEs (3 categories, 10 items) on depression and the dose-response relationship between the number of SLEs experienced and depression. The interactions between gender and SLEs on depression were examined with likelihood ratio test. Results Among the 512891 participants, 35085 (6.8%) reported family-related events, 5972 (1.2%) reported finance-related events, and 4453 (0.9%) reported other stressful life events. Females had a higher occurrence of family-related events, while males had a higher occurrence of finance-related and other events (all P-value <0.001). After adjusted for potential confounders, SLEs were significantly associated with MDEs (RRR=11.99, 95%CI: 10.49-13.71 for males; RRR=14.15, 95%CI: 12.97-15.43 for females), and with depressive symptoms (RRR=7.43, 95%CI:6.94-7.95 for males;RRR=8.30, 95%CI: 7.91-8.72 for females). And the associations were stronger in females than in males (P for interaction=0.049). In the three categories of SLEs, family-related events showed stronger association in female (P for interaction<0.001), while no gender specific differences were observed for the other two categories (all P-value>0.05). Furthermore, the effect of the number of SLEs experienced increased in a dose-response manner on depressive symptoms and MDEs for both genders, but no gender specific differences were found. Conclusions The gender modifies the association between stressful life events and depression in Chinese adults, and women experienced family-related events have a greater risk of depression. The more the stressful events experienced, the more likely to have depression.

OBJECTIVETo examine the socio-demographic patterns on 12-month major depressive episodes (MDE) among Chinese adults aged 30-79 years.

METHODSSocio-demographic variables from half a million Chinese people aged 30-79 years in the China Kadoorie Biobank study during 2004-2008, were collected. For those showing signs of depression, an additional World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview-Short Form (CIDI-SF) was face to face administrated, to assess the MDE according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM)- IV criteria. Chi squared and non-parametric tests were used to compare the differences between socio-demographic categories, depressive symptoms and help-seeking behaviors. Associations with MDE for socio-demographic variables were examined by logistic models.

RESULTSA total of 3 281(6.40‰) studied subjects showed an MDE in the preceding 12 months. Gender, marital status, occupation and household income were correlated with MDE. Somatization was common in Chinese MDE patients while symptoms as weight change (99.91%), sleeping disorder (83.60%) and feeling tired (81.59%), stood for the top 3. As for each episode, the proportions and the total number of depressive symptoms appeared higher among females (P < 0.05). One third of the patients did not seek for any social support or psychotherapy with only 8.99% had ever taken antidepressant drugs.

CONCLUSIONRates of depression varied significantly between social groups in Chinese adults aged 30-79. In this study, only 65.19% of the MDE patients ever has sought help or received treatment.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Demography ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Middle Aged