Objective To study the anti-hepatofibrotic effects of rhubarb and tetrandrine in experimental rat model, and to explore its possible mechanism. Methods The experimental hepatic fibrosis was induced by subcutaneous injection of CCl 4. The rhubarb and tetrandrine were administered through gastric tube respectively. The liver function test was performed by enzyme kinetics and the extracellular matrix (ECM) contents were determined by radioimmunoassay. The pathological changes of liver tissues were detected by HE and VG staining; meanwhile, ultra microstructural changes were observed by electron microscope in randomly selected samples. Results Both rhubarb and tetrandrine could improve the liver function in liver fibrosis, decrease the contents of ECM and reduce the degree of liver fibrosis, with the best results in rats receiving high dosage of rhubarb and low dosage of tetrandrine. Conclusions Rhubarb and tetrandrine could protect hepatocytes, inhibit the ECM synthesis, and thereby could prevent the development of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in the experimental animal models.

The national famous TCM doctor, Professor LUO Quan considers that the key pathogeny of chronic heart failure (CHF) is deficiency of yang qi, blood blocking and liquid stagnation, and should be treated with the method of tonifying qi and warming yang, activating blood and expelling stasis and inducing diuresis to alleviate edema. Qiangxin Prescription was created based on the above treatments, with obvious efficacy. This article conducted a preliminary analysis on the essence of medication of Qiangxin Prescription, took some example of Professor LUO Quan's experiences in using this prescription, with a purpose to be helpful to the treatment of syndrome differentiation and treatment of CHF.

ObjectiveTo investigate the short-term effect of biofeedback combined with pelvic floor muscle training(PFM) on female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and significance of the surface EMG activity of PFM.MethodsAccording to clinical symptoms, 69 women with SUI were divided into three groups: mild(n=26), moderate(n=24) and severe(n=19) groups. Biofeedback combined with PFM was performed on all patients for 12 weeks. Urinary diary, the score of International Continence Inquiring Committee's Questionnaire (ICI-Q-SF) and the surface EMG activity of PFM were recorded before and after treatment.ResultsIn all groups, the times of voiding (TOV), leakage times(LT) and the scores of ICI-Q-SF were significantly lower after treatment than those before treatment, the vigor of the surface EMG activity of the pelvic floor muscles was significantly higher than that before treatment (P<0.05). The difference value of TOV, LT, the scores of ICI-Q-SF, vigor, the peak value and energy and the efficiency in the mild group were significantly higher than those in other groups after treatment.ConclusionBiofeedback combined with PFM is a simple, effective treatment for SUI, especially for the mild ones; the surface EMG activity of PFM is important for curative effect assessment.

Objective The hsa-miR-106b-25 gene cluster is involved in various biological processes of carcinoma .This study aims at a prediction and function analysis of the hsa-miR-106b-25 gene cluster, miR-106b, miR-93, and miR-25, so as to provide some evidence for further studies on the functions of the three miRNAs and the mechanisms of their interaction . Methods We obtained the sequences of miR-106b, miR-93, and miR-25 from the miRBase, predicted their target genes with TargetScan , PicTar, and miRanda, and used 3 or more experimentally verified target genes from the miRTarbase as the gene set for further bioinformatic analysis .We predic-ted the biological processes of the target genes by GeneOntology analysis and enriched KEGG ( Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) by pathway analysis, produced protein-protein interaction ( PPI) networks with STRING . Results The target genes of the miR-106b-25 gene cluster were significantly enriched in such biological processes as the regulation of macromolecule metabolism , regulation of metabolic process , and cell cycle process , while the KEGG pathway mainly in glioma, melanoma, prostate cancer , and gallbladder carcino-ma.The proteins encoded by the targeted genes of showed complicated interactions , and those encoded by the KAT2B, PTEN, TP53, CDH1, MDM2, E2F1, RB1, and SMAD7 plaid a core role in the interac-tion network. Conc lusoi n MiRNAs of the miR-106b-25 gene cluster regulate the downstream target proteins involved in tumorigenesis by participating in the cell cycle and cancer signaling pathway .

Objective To synthetically evaluate the relationship between miR-31 and the prognosis of carcinoma and to investi-gate its related mechanism.Methods The correlative literatures of tumor prognosis were retrieved from the electronic databases PubMed,EMBASE and ISI Web of Science.The pooled hazard ratios (HRs)and 95% confidence interval(95%CI )were extracted. The prognostic data were performed the synthesis analysis.Results A total of 7 trials conformed to the inclusion criteria including accumulated 2 012 cases of carcinoma.Meta-analysis revealed that the decrease of miR-31 expression in the tumor patients had the poor prognosis (HR=0.784,95%CI :0.630-0.974);in the subgroup analysis,the synthesis results adopting the multivariable a-nalysis and China subjects were 3.512 (95%CI :1.797-6.865)and 1.574 (95%CI :1.062-2.333),which indicating that the in-crease of miR-31 expression predicted the poor prognosis;miR-31 had no statistical significance in the digestive system (P >0.05). Conclusion The prognostic role of miR-31 may possess the histological and regional specificity and has the potential as a novel marker.

Objective To analyze risk factors for surgical site infection(SSI) in cardiac surgery patients,so as to provide basis for making control measures.Methods 215 patients who underwent cardiac surgery in a hospital between January 2012 to December 2014 were investigated,univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the related risk factors for postoperative SSI.Results The incidence of postoperative SSI in cardiac surgery patients was 16.28％ (35/215).Univariate analysis showed that the incidence of postoperative SSI was relatively higher in patients aged＞65 years,duration of operation＞5 hours,continuous operation,preoperative hospitalization time ＞7 days,irrational perioperative antimicrobial use,as well as patients with underlying diseases such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus.Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the age,duration of operation,continuous operation,preoperative hospitalization time,irrational perioperative use of antimicrobial agents,and patients with underlying diseases were independent risk factors for SSI in patients who underwent cardiac surgery.Conclusion Incidence of SSI is higher in patients with cardiac surgery,preventive measures should be taken to control risk factors such as duration of operation,so as to reduce the incidence of SSI.

Objective To understand the knowledge of tuberculosis in general hospital patients with respiratory diseases.Methods Face to face questionnaire survey 821 respiratory patients, the main contents include: the tuberculosis awareness, common symptoms of tuberculosis, tuberculosis with or without contagious, persistent cough expectorant willing to go to where the treatment of tuberculosis, national policy, treatment of the course of treatment, tuberculosis prevention measures, and whether the knowledge of tuberculosis drug resistance.Results 92.1% of patients were aware of TB and 98.7% of patients knew TB was contagious, and 99% knew that TB was transmitted by the respiratory tract.Only 4.5% of patients with symptoms appear willing to go to tuberculosis treatment of patients.94.9% of the patients were aware of a specific TB control facility, 85% knew that the basic TB treatment was free, 99% thought to be good treatment of tuberculosis patients, 55% of patients know that tuberculosis treatment for a long time, to regular medication.30% of people know that mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance.90% of patients know to isolate tuberculosis patients, 40% of patients that protect susceptible populations, and 95% believed that BCG could prevent tuberculosis.Conclusion Patients have a certain understanding of tuberculosis, the timely treatment of indifference to the treatment of treatment is probably not impressed, very little knowledge of tuberculosis resistance.

Objective: To investigate the expression of voltage-dependent potassium channel 1.3(Kv1.3) mRNA and protein during human monocyte-derived macrophage differentiation into foam cells and its function in foam cell formation. Methods: Human peripheral blood monocytes were isolated from healthy male volunteers by density gradient centrifugation and then by adherent method. The obtained monocytes were cultured for 5 days to differentiate into macrophages. Based on establishment of the human macrophage-derived foam cell model, the expression of Kv1.3 channel was investigated by immunocytochemical staining, reverse transcription-polymerase chain raction (RT-PCR) and Western blot. Furthermore, the effects of rMargatoxin, a Kv 1.3 channel-specific inhibitor, on cholesterol metabolism in macrophages incepting oxidized low density lipoprotein (OxLDL) were studied. Results: After the macrophages co-incubated with 30 mg/L OxLDL at 37 ℃ for 60 hours, the cellular volume obviously enlarged and many red lipid granules were deposited in cytoplasm. The total amount of cholesterol (TC),free cholesterol ( FC ) and cholesterol ester ( CE ) in cells markedly increased and the ratio of CE/TC rose from ( 14.4±6.8) % to (57.9±3.5) % (n=7,P＜0.05). However, the expression of Kv1.3 channel had no significant change. r Margatoxin (0.1 nmol/L and 10 nmol/L) markedly reduced the contents of TC, FC and CE in macrophages and the ratios of CE/TC decreased to (42.8±11.6) % and (22.6±8.0)% , respectively (n=7, P＜0.05). Meanwhile, the red lipid granules deposited in the cytoplasm of macrophages also decreased. Conclusion: These data clearly show that the expression of Ky1.3 channel does not change obviously during human monocyte-derived macrophage differentiation into foam cells and the blocking of it would prevent foam cell formation.

This study examined the adipocytokine-vascular interactions and link between epicardial adipose tissue and coronary artery atherosclerosis. Thirty-four patients undergoing open heart surgery were chosen randomly, and divided into group I (non-coronary artery disease group) and group II (coronary artery disease group). Blood samples were taken through peripheral vein prior to surgery. Plasma levels of a panel of proteins (adiponectin, IL-10, TNF-α) were detected by using ELISA. Epicardial adipose tissue was taken near the proximal tract of the right coronary artery and subcutaneous adipose was taken from the leg before cardiopulmonary bypassing, adiponectin and CD68 + were detected by using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Our results showed that plasma adiponectin level was significantly lower in the group II as compared with group I (P<0.05). There were no differences in plasma concentration (IL-10, TNF-α, tatal-chol, HDL-chol, LDL-chol) between group I and group II. The number of CD68+ cells in epicardial adipose tissue of group II was significantly higher than that in subcutaneous adipose tissue. Adiponectin mRNA expression was 6 fold higher in subcutaneous adipose tissue than in epicardial adipose tissue of group II (P<0.01). Furthermore, the level of adiponectin mRNA in the epicardial adipose tissue in group II was also significantly lower than in group I (P<0.05). We are led to conclude that inflammation that occurs locally in epicardial adipose tissue of CAD contributes to the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and safety of day surgery holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy for urinary tract calculi.Methods A total of 294 cases of urinary tract calculi were treated with ureteroscopic holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy from October 2010 to September 2011.There were 147 cases for day surgery and 147 cases for inpatient surgery group.The time of waiting to be admitted,success rate,operative time,intraoperative and postoperative complications,hospitalization costs were analyzed in each group.Results The mean operative time of the day surgery group and the inpatient surgery group was 46.4± 16.5 and 52.1± 18.3 min.The difference in the mean operative time between the two groups was not statistically significant (P＞0.05).The stone free rate was not statistically significant between the day surgery group (95.9％) and the inpatient surgery group (92.5％,P＞0.05).The complication rate of the day surgery group was slightly lower than the inpatient surgery group (5.0％ VS 5.4％),but the differences between the two groups was not statistically significant (P＞0.05).The mean time of waiting to be admitted of the day surgery group was statistically shorter than the inpatient surgery group(2.5±1.3d VS 7.6±3.6 d,P＜0.05).Patients in the day surgery groups spent statistically less money than patients in the inpatient surgery group (5433.4 VS 8612.9,P＜0.05).Conclusions Day surgery for ureteroscopic holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy could be safe with lower costs and incidence of postoperative complications,faster postoperative recovery.Pre-operative adequately and selecting appropriate patients are helpful to reduce and control of intraoperative and postoperative complications.