BACKGROUND: Foreign studies have demonstrated that the blue light at 470 nm inhibits melatonin secretion and displays the most obvious biorhythm regulation. To date, light-emitting diode (LED) applied in regulating biorhythm remains poorly explored. OBJECTIVE: To explore whether a certain intensity of LED (blue) light could induce retinal injury in rats. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Randomized, controlled animal experiment was performed at the Animal Laboratory of Peking University Third Hospital between May 2007 and April 2008. MATERIALS: A total of 32 SD rats and 16 BN rats were provided by Animal Department of Peking University Third Hospital. METHODS: A total of 16 SD and 16 BN rats were respectively randomly divided into test and control groups. Test group rats were placed in light boxes which were controlled by blue LED (wavelength 470 nm) at a intensity of 300-350μW/cm2, 4 hours everyday for 3 days. The remaining SD rats were placed in light box which was controlled by blue LED (wavelength 470 nm) at a intensity of 120-150μW/cm2, 4 hours everyday for 3 days. The control rats were not treated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: At the second day after light irradiation, the rats of all groups were sacrificed and both eyeballs were harvested. The frozen sections were subjected to hematoxylin-eosin staining to observe changes of rat retina. RESULTS: A total of 48 rats were included in final analysis. The retina of SD rats became thinning and disorderly arranged following blue LED irradiation at density of 300-350μW/cm2, but the retina of BN rat remained unchanged similar to control group. After blue LED irradiation at density of 120-150μW/cm2, the retina of SD rat remained unchanged similar to control group. CONCLUSION: Blue LED light source irradiation at a intensity of 300-350μW/cm2 is safe to pigment-protected retina, and at a intensity of 120-150μW/cm2 does not injury retina of different races of rats.

Abstract： Objective　To investigate and analyze the factors influencing the direct medical costs of tuberculosis patients in Hainan Province, so as to provide scientific reference for reducing the medical burden of patients and adjusting the medical insurance reimbursement policies in the local area. Methods　Using the total health expenditure accounting data of Hainan Province in 2020, including the outpatient and inpatient data of 14 provincial medical institutions, 235 city and county level medical institutions, and other relevant data from the 2020 Hainan Statistical Yearbook and Health Financial Yearbook, the direct medical costs of tuberculosis patients in the province in that year were calculated, and the influencing factors were explored using single factor analysis and multivariate generalized linear model. Results　The final number of cases included in this study was 11 979, including 7 526 males (62.83%) and 4 453 females (37.17%). The total direct medical costs of patients were 43.207 3 million yuan, of which the total outpatient costs were 2.733 9 million yuan (6.32%) and the total inpatient costs were 40.473 4 million yuan (93.67%). In the cost composition analysis, the drug cost was 17.971 million yuan (41.44%), the examination cost was 8.854 7 million yuan (20.49%), other costs were 16.445 5 million yuan (38.06%), and the median (quartile) M(P25,P75) direct medical cost of each patient was 177.50 (66.73,764.89) yuan. The multivariate generalized linear model analysis showed that hospitalization, new rural cooperative medical insurance (NRCMI) and urban employee medical insurance were the influencing factors of the increase in direct medical costs of tuberculosis patients the median (quartile) M(P25,P75) of direct medical costs are 10 425.04 (6 560.87,17 374.9), 10 246.5 (5 871.28,17 220.33), 3 177.2 (293.09,7 730.23) yuan respectively; the OR(95%CI) values were -3.505 (-3.499- -3.517), 1.559 (1.551-1.569) and 2.191 (2.188-2.207) respectively. Conclusions　The direct medical costs of tuberculosis patients in Hainan Province are high. Hospitalization, the new rural cooperative medical insurance and the medical insurance for urban workers are the influencing factors of the increase in costs.

Objective To observe the effects of genistein and 17?-estradiol on microstructure of cancellous bone in ovariectomized (OVX) rats.Methods Ninty 7-month-old SD rats were randomly divided into baseline group,ovariectomized (OVX),sham-operated (SHAM),17?-estradiol treated (10?g?kg~(-1).day~(-1),EST) and genistein treated (5 mg?kg~(-1)?day~(-1),GEN) groups,and were killed at the beginning of the experiment,the 3rd and 15th week after operation.MicroCT scanning was performed on the left tibia in vitro.The regions involving 0.5 mm slice thickness and 1.6 mm distal to the tibial growth plate were selected as the regions of interest.Results At the 3rd week after operation,the tissue bone mineral density (tBMD) and trabecular thickness (sTh.Th) in group GEN were significantly higher than those in OVX and EST groups (all P

Purpose To explore the expression,significance and relationship of apoptosis related gene Apollon and Caspase 9 in gastric carcinoma. Methods The SP immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of Apollon and Caspase 9 in 105 cases of gastric carcinoma,38 adjacent tissues and 29 normal tissues,and the expression of Apollon and Caspase 9 was analyzed with relation to clinicopathologic factors. Results The numbers of positive expression of Apollon gene in gastric carcinoma tissues,adjacent tissues and normal tissues were 82(78. 10％) ,8(21. 05％) and 2(6. 90％) respectively, there was significant difference between gastric carcinoma tissues, adjacent tissues and normal tissues (P < 0. 01) . The expression of Apollon in gastric carcinoma was positively correlated with degree of tumor differentiation,TNM staging and lymph node metastasis (P < 0. 05) ,but not with other clinicopathologic factors (P > 0. 05) . The numbers of positive expression of Caspase 9 gene in gastric carcinoma tissues,adjacent tissues and normal tissues were 21 (20. 00％) ,23 (60. 53％) and 21 (72. 41％) ,respectively,and there was significant difference between gastric carcinoma tissues,adjacent tissues and normal tissues (P < 0. 01) . The expression of Caspase 9 in gastric carcinoma was positively correlated with degree of tumor differentiation, TNM staging and lymph node metastasis (P < 0. 01) ,but not with other clinicopathologic factors (P > 0. 05) . The expression of Apollon was negatively correlated to Caspase 9 in gastric carcinoma with statistical significance (r = - 0. 541 1,P < 0. 01) . Conclusions The interaction of Apollon and Caspase 9 may be involved in the gastric carcinogenesis and progression. Apollon is closely related with invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma,and it may be a potential treatment target.

Using a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, macroporous adsorbent resin, and reversed-phase HPLC, 115 compounds including diterpenes, sesquiterpenes, treterpenes, coumarins, lignans, fatty acid derivatives, and simple aromatic derivatives were isolated from an ethanol extract of branch of Fraxinus sieboldiana (Oleaceaue), and their structures of the compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1 D, 2D NMR and MS techniques. Among them, 41 compounds were new. In previous reports, we have been described the isolation, structure elucidation, and bioactivities of the 41 new compounds and 22 known orii including 8 coumarins, 4 phenolic and 12 phenylethanoidal glycosides. As a consequence, we herein reported the isolation and structure elucidation of the remaining 50 known compounds including 8- hydroxy-12-oxoabieta-9(11),13-dien-20-oic 8, 20-lactone(1), 6beta-hydroxyfcrruginol(2),(+)-pisiferic acid(3), (+)-pisiferal(4),(+)-7-dehydroabiet6none(5), 1-oxomiltirone(6), subdigitatone(7), linarionoside B(8), (9S)-linarionoside B(9), (3R,9R)-3-hydroxy-7,8-dihydro-beta-ionol 9-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside(10), ursolic acid(11), betulinic acid(12), euscaphic acid(13), (+)-syringaresinol(14), (+)-fraxiresinol(15), (+)-1-hydroxysyringaresinol(16), pinoresinol(17), medioresinol(18), 8-acetoxypinoresinol(19), epipinoresinol(20), (-)-olivil(21), (+)-cyclo-olivil(22), 3,3'-dimethoxy-4,4',9-trihydroxy-7,9'-epoxylignan-7'-one(23),(+)-1-hydroxypinoresinol 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (24), (+)-1-hydroxypinoresinol 4"-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside(25),(+)-syringaresinol O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (26), liriodendrin (27), ehletianol D(28), icariside E5(29) (-)-(7R, 8R)-threo-1-C-syringylglycerol(30),(-)-(7R, 8S)-erythro-guaiacylglycerol (31),(-)-(7R, 8R)-threo-guaiacylglycerol(32), 3-(4-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-3-methoxy)-phenyl-2E-propenol(33),2,3-dihydroxy-l-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-propanone(34), 2,3-dihydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-propanone (35), 3-hydroxy-l-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-propanone(36), omega-hydroxypropioguaiacone(37), sinapyladehyde(38), trans-p-hydroxycinnamaldehyde(39), syringic acid(40), vanilic acid(41), vanillin(42), 4-hydroxy-benzaldehyde (43), (24R)-24-ethyl-5alpha-cholestane-3beta,5,6beta-triol(44), beta-sitosterol(45), daucosterol(46), 2,6-dimethoxy-I,4-benzoquinone(47), 2,6-dimethoxy-pyran-4-one(48), 1-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)uracil(49), and mannitol(50). Compouds 1-7,12,18,28-37,44 and 48 were obtained from the genus Fraxinus for the first time.
Fraxinus ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Plant Extracts ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo explore the values of ultrasonographic features in differentially diagnosing benign and malignant thyroid nodules, and attempt to establish a quantitative ultrasound classification system.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 20 ultrasound features of 926 thyroid nodules in 527 patients. Using logistic regression analysis, we obtained the probability function for predicting the malignancy in thyroid nodules and established a preliminary ultrasound classification system.

RESULTSThe ages of patients with thyroid nodules was older than that of the patients with thyroid carcinoma (t = 6.496, P < 0.001). The correctness rate of ultrasonic diagnosis was 80.1%. The logistic multivariate regression analysis showed that among all ultrasonographic features, aspect ratio ≥ 1, obscure boundary, irregular margin, significant internal hypoecho, internal hypoecho, internal micro-calcifications, posterior echo attenuation, thyroid capsule invasion, abnormal adjacent lymph nodes, and ultrasonic elastography 5-point evaluation scores > 3 were contributing factors for thyroid carcinoma. The equation was P (us) = 1 /[1+e(-)Z], where z is the logit of malignant thyroid nodule, and taking P (us) > 0.50 as boundary value, the prediction accuracy rate was 84.1%. Using this model, 92.2% of the thyroid nodules were predicted as nodular goiter, and 69.4% of the thyroid carcinomas were correctly predicted. P (us) was stratified into four levels: Level 1: 0-16% malignancy; Level 2: 17%-50% malignancy; Level 3: 51%-70% malignancy; and level 4: 71%-100% malignancy.

CONCLUSIONSThe quantitative thyroid imaging reporting and data system developed in this study makes ultrasound reports more objective, normalized and standardized. It can be used to evaluate the malignancy risk of thyroid nodules and help to make right decision in clinics.

Adult ; Calcinosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Thyroid Nodule ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Ultrasonography

By using a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel and Pharmadex LH-20 and reversed-phase HPLC, two minor new compounds, labda-12, 14-dien-6beta, 7alpha, 8beta, 17-tetraol (1), 2, 3-cis-6-acetyl-5-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethylvinyl)-2, 3-dihydrobenzofuran-3-ol angelate (2), and a minor new natural product 6-methoxy-4-methyl-3, 4-dihydro-2H-naphthalen-1-one (3) have been isolated from an ethanolic extract of Heteroplexis micocephala. Their structures were elucidated with spectroscopic data analysis including 2D NMR experiments.
Aster Plant ; chemistry ; Benzofurans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Diterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Naphthalenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of human plasma exosomes-like vesicles on the regulatory function of macrophages.

METHODSThe exosomes-like vesicles were purified from healthy donors plasma with a series of high-speed centrifugation and ultrafiltration. Macrophages were derived from cultured human blood monocytes. The molecular markers of macrophages were assayed by FACS. After cultured with exosomes-like vesicles, the changes of macrophages cytoplasma Ca(2+), and related genes and proteins were assayed by FACS, RT-PCR and Western Blot, respectively.

RESULTSAfter cultured with exosomes-like vesicles, mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) of macrophages cytoplasma Ca(2+) was increased. The vesicles enhanced macrophages to express cytokines genes, the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α genes being increased by 0.85 and 1.69 times respectively at 2 h, and that of IL-6 gene 3.7 times compared with the control at 8 h. However, the vesicles inhibited the expression of macrophages IL-10 gene, had no influence on the Frizzled5 receptor expression and could induce CaMKII phosphorylation.

CONCLUSIONSExosomes-like vesicles can up-regulat macrophages expression of inflammatory cytokines genes, and increase the secretion of inflammatory cytokines by activating the Wnt5A-Ca(2+) signaling pathway.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium Signaling ; Exosomes ; Female ; Humans ; Macrophage Activation ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; metabolism ; Wnt Proteins ; metabolism ; Wnt-5a Protein ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of dose-reduced intravenous busulfan, cyclophosphamide and etoposide (BCV) as conditioning for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in multiple myeloma (MM).

METHODSFrom September 2007 to September 2010, thirty-two ASCT-eligible patients with MM received high dose melphalan (HDM) as conditioning in our center. Median age was 53.5 (30-63) years. From October 2010 to October 2012, thirty-eight patients conditioned by BCV regimen (intravenous busulfan, total doses 9.6 mg/kg), whose median age was 54(35-64) years.

RESULTSThere were no statistical differences in clinical characteristics between the two groups, including myeloma isotype, Durie-Salmon staging, international staging system(ISS), and patients received the first line, second line or more than third line therapy. The median time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment were 10.5 vs 11 days (P=0.057) and 11 vs 12 days (P=0.100) in the BCV and HDM groups, respectively. The toxicity of two conditioning regimens had no significant difference. None of hepatic veno-occlusive disease and early transplant related mortality was observed. Although overall response rates showed no significant difference between two groups (P>0.05), the CR rates increased from 44.74% pre-ASCT to 63.18% post-ASCT in the BCV group, while 37.50% to 59.38% in the HDM group. During the median follow-up of 16 months (range 2-27) in BCV group, ten patients (26.32%) developed progressive disease and PFS at 12 months were 71.37%.

CONCLUSIONSIn this study, the dose-reduced intravenous busulfan, cyclophosphamide and etoposide (BCV) conditioning was demonstrated an effective and safety regimen for ASCT-eligible patients with MM. However, the long term observation is needed.

Adult ; Busulfan ; therapeutic use ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Etoposide ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Male ; Melphalan ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; therapy ; Transplantation Conditioning ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the way to induce mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to differentiate into dopaminergic neurons in vitro.

METHODSMSCs were obtained from rat bone marrow, cultured and passaged. MSCs used in this experiment had multipotency, which was indirectly proved by being induced to differentiate into chondrocytes and adipocytes. MSCs were cultured in medium containing 0.5 mmol/L IBMX for 2 days. Then the medium was replaced with induction medium, which contained GDNF, IL-1beta, mesencephalic glial-cell-conditioned medium and flash-frozen mesencephalic membrane fragments. The surface markers of the differentiated neurons, such as NSE, nestin, MAP-2a, b and TH were detected by immunocytochemistry and Western blot after MSCs were cultured in induction medium for 7 days and 15 days.

RESULTSMSCs differentiated into neural progenitors and expressed nestin after MSCs were incubated with medium containing IBMX for 2 d. After the medium was replaced with induction medium containing many inducing agents, MSCs differentiated into neuron-like cells and dopaminergic neuron-like cells and expressed NSE, MAP-2a, b and TH. The percentage of NSE-positive cells, MAP-2a, b-positive cells and TH-positive cells was 30.032 +/- 2.489%, 41.580 +/- 5.101% and 34.958 +/- 5.534%, respectively after MSCs were induced in medium containing GDNF, IL-1beta, mesencephalic glial-cell-conditioned medium and flash-frozen mesencephalic membrane fragments for 15 days.

CONCLUSIONMSCs can differentiate into dopaminergic neuron-like cells and are a new cell source for the treatment of neurodegeneration diseases and have a great potential for wide application.

Adipocytes ; cytology ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Carboxylesterase ; analysis ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; cytology ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Dopamine ; analysis ; Intermediate Filament Proteins ; analysis ; Mesencephalon ; cytology ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; analysis ; Nestin ; Neurons ; cytology ; metabolism ; Phosphoprotein Phosphatases ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar