This article introduces the principle, structure and components of a visualization system for carrying out minimally invasive surgical abortion. Without altering the current surgical approach or increasing the surgical difficulty, the surgical system integrated a mini-CMOS image sensor and LED light and a visual device to allow fixed-point removal of the fetus or embryo in the minimally invasive surgery.
Abortion, Induced ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Pregnancy

The survey of traditional knowledge related to Chinese materia medica resources is the important component and one of the innovative aspects of the fourth national survey of the Chinese materia medica resources. China has rich traditional knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and the comprehensive investigation of TCM traditional knowledge aims to promote conservation and sustainable use of Chinese materia medica resources. Building upon the field work of pilot investigations, this paper introduces the essential procedures and key methods for conducting the survey of traditional knowledge related to Chinese materia medica resources. The essential procedures are as follows. First is the preparation phrase. It is important to review all relevant literature and provide training to the survey teams so that they have clear understanding of the concept of traditional knowledge and master key survey methods. Second is the field investigation phrase. When conducting field investigations, survey teams should identify the traditional knowledge holders by using the 'snowball method', record the traditional knowledge after obtaining prior informed concerned from the traditional knowledge holders. Researchers should fill out the survey forms provided by the Technical Specification of the Fourth National Survey of Chinese Materia Medica Resources. Researchers should pay particular attention to the scope of traditional knowledge and the method of inheriting the knowledge, which are the key information for traditional knowledge holders and potential users to reach mutual agreed terms to achieve benefit sharing. Third is the data compilation and analysis phrase. Researchers should try to compile and edit the TCM traditional knowledge in accordance with intellectual property rights requirements so that the information collected through the national survey can serve as the basic data for the TCM traditional knowledge database. The key methods of the survey include regional division of Chinese materia medica resources, interview of key information holders and standardization of information.' In particular, using "snowball method" can effectively identify traditional knowledge holder in the targeted regions and ensuring traditional knowledge holders receiving prior informed concerned before sharing the information with researcher to make sure the rights of traditional knowledge holders are protected. Employing right survey methods is not only the key to obtain traditional knowledge related to Chinese materia medica resources, but also the pathway to fulfill the objectives of access and benefit sharing stipulated in Convention on Biological Resources. It will promote the legal protection of TCM traditional knowledge and conservation of TCM intangible, cultural heritage.
China ; Data Collection ; Databases, Pharmaceutical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Materia Medica ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect and safety of L-carnitine in the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia based on current clinical evidence.

METHODSWe searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CNKI, VIP, CBM and Wanfang Database from the establishment to April 2014 for the published literature on the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia with L-carnitine. We conducted literature screening, data extraction, and assessment of the methodological quality of the included trials according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, followed by statistical analysis with the RevMan 5. 2 software.

RESULTSSeven randomized controlled trials involving 751 patients with idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia met the inclusion criteria, and 678 of them were included in the meta-analysis. L-carnitine treatment achieved a significantly increased rate of spontaneous pregnancy as compared with the control group (RR = 3.2, 95% CI 1.74 to 5.87, P = 0.0002). After 12-16 and 24-26 weeks of medication, total sperm motility (WMD = 5.21, 95% CI 2.78 to 7.64, P < 0.0001 and WMD = 9.29, 95% CI 1.28 to 17.29, P = 0.02) and the percentage of progressively motile sperm (WMD = 12.44, 95% CI 4.58 to 20.31, P = 0.002 and WMD = 9.76, 95% CI 3.56 to 15.97, P = 0.002) were remarkably higher than those in the control group, but no statistically significant differences were observed in sperm concentration between the two groups (WMD = 4.91, 95% CI -2.63 to 12.45, P = 0.2 and WMD = 0.93, 95% CI -3.48 to 5.34, P = 0.68). After 12-16 weeks of treatment, the percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm was markedly decreased in the L-carnitine group as compared with the control (WMD = -2.48, 95% CI -4.35 to -0.61, P = 0.009), but showed no significant difference from the latter group after 24-26 weeks (WMD = -4.38, 95% CI -9.66 to 0.89, P = 0.1). No statistically significant difference was found in the semen volume between the two groups after 12-16 or 24-26 weeks of medication (WMD = -0.13, 95% CI -0.43 to 0.18, P = 0.42 and WMD = 0.28, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.58, P = 0.07). No serious L-carnitine-related adverse events were reported in 4 of the randomniized controlled trials.

CONCLUSIONThe current evidence indicates that L-carnitine can improve spontaneous pregnancy and semen parameters in the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia, with no serious adverse reactions.

Asthenozoospermia ; drug therapy ; Carnitine ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility

Five compounds, huyouyisu (1), vomifoliol (2), isoferulic acid (3), 1,2,3-trihydroxyphenol (4) and p-hydroxy-phenol (5), were isolated from the peels of Citrus changshan-huyou Y. B. Chang for the first time by utilizing repeated column chromatography on silica gel. Among them, huyouyisu (1) is a new compound. The structure was elucidated by using 1D and 2D spectra.
Butanols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Cinnamates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Citrus ; chemistry ; Cyclohexanones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Phenols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pegylated-interferon (Peg-IFN) treatment as monotherapy or in combination with nucleoside analogues (NAs) for treating chronic hepatis B (CHB) infection.Searches of PubMed, OVID, EMBASE, and the Chinese Medical (WanFang, CNKI, and VIP) databases were conducted to identify all relevant randomized controlled trials published since January 1990. Twelve studies comparing Peg-IFN monotherapy to NA combination therapy (lamivudine (LAM), n =8); adefovir (ADV), n = 4) met the inclusion criteria (treatment duration, range: 48-52 weeks; follow-up, range: 24 weeks to three years). Meta-analysis was performed with RevMan 5.0 using the fixed-effects and random-effects models. Patients who had received combination therapy had a higher biochemical response rate at the end of treatment than those who had received monotherapy (51.1% vs. 38.9%, odds ratio (OR) = 1.63, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.33-2.01, P less than 0.01). Subgroup analysis of Peg-IFN combination therapies with LAM or ADV indicated that neither NA type significantly enhanced the increased efficacy of combination therapy compared to monotherapy. The combination therapy subgroups also had higher virologic response rates at the end of treatment than the monotherapy subgroups (LAM: 65.9% vs. 34.9%, OR = 3.57, 95% CI: 1.83-6.95, P less than 0.01; ADV: 74.6% vs. 46.2%, OR = 3.66, 95% CI: 2.13-6.30, P less than 0.01). Moreover, the combination therapy group had a higher sustained biochemical response rate at the end of follow-up than the monotherapy group (47.6% vs. 42.1%, OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.05-1.55, P less than 0.05). The LAM combination therapy subgroup had a significantly higher biochemical response rate than the monotherapy subgroup, but there was no significant difference between the LAM and ADV combination therapy subgroups. At the end of follow-up, the ADV combination therapy subgroup had a significantly lower rate of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) than the monotherapy subgroup, but there was no significant difference between the ADV and LAM combination therapy subgroups for HbeAg reduction. The combination therapy group and monotherapy group showed no statistically significant differences in HBsAg reduction or occurrence of severe adverse events. Peg-IFN/NA combination therapy produces a higher biochemical response rate in CHB patients than PEG-IFN monotherapy. Moreover, Peg-IFN/ADV combination therapy produces a greater reduction in HBeAg than Peg-IFN monotherapy.
Adenine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferons ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Lamivudine ; administration & dosage ; Nucleosides ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Organophosphonates ; administration & dosage ; Polyethylene Glycols ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) represent one of the promising cell sources for myocardial regeneration due to their easy accessibility and efficacy in the improvement of cardiac function following myocardial infarction. However, previously reported studies on the underlying mechanism of ADSCs-mediated cardioprotective effect mainly focused on the ADSCs cultured at room air. OBJECTIVE: To test the paracrine actions and anti-apoptotic effect of ADSCs under hypoxic conditions. METHODS: After isolation and culture, neonatal rat myocardial cells were injured by hydrogen peroxide and co-cultured with rat ADSCs under normoxia and hypoxia (10% O2) conditions. Ratio of reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) in the cell pellet and levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were tested by ELISA. Expression of apoptotic proteins Bax and Bcl-2 were determined by western blot. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: GSH/GSSG, VEGF, IGF-1, and bFGF were decreased in neonatal rat myocardial cells injured by hydrogen peroxide. ADSCs significantly attenuated hydrogen peroxide-induced myocardial apoptosis by increasing the ratio of GSH/GSSG and the secretion of VEGF, IGF-1 and bFGF. ADSCs also down-regulated Bax expression and up-regulated Bcl-2 expression. To conclude, hypoxic conditions can enhance the anti-apoptosis and cardioprotective effects of ADSCs through the paracrine mechanism.

Objective To investigate the effects of Longdan Xiegan Decoction on the expression of Notch signaling-related genes in rats with experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU).Methods Totally 24 Lewis rats were randomly divided into normal control group,EAU model group and Longdan Xiegan Decoction treatment group.A rat model of EAU was established in the EAU model group and Longdan Xiegan Decoction treatment group,followed by intragastrical administration of Longdan Xiegan Decoction in the latter group after successful modeling.On day 12 after different treatments,the spleen and lymph nodes were isolated from rats of all the three groups for the collection of CD4 + T ceils,and the levels of both Th17 and Treg cells were analyzed by flow cytometry to calculate the ratio of Th17 to Treg cells.Meanwhile the levels of Notch1,Notch2,Notch3,Notch4 mRNAs expression were monitored by qRT-PCR.Moreover,the expressions of Notch signaling-related proteins were further detected using ELISA technique.Results Flow cytometry showed increased Th17 cell level but decreased Treg cell level in the EAU model group when compared with the normal control group.However,after treatment with Longdan Xiegan Decoction,the Th17 level was decreased,whereas the Treg level was increased,and the ratio of Th17 to Treg gradually restored to equilibrium when compared to EAU model group.qRT-PCR results showed that the expression levels of Notch1,Notch2 and Notch4 mRNAs in Longdan Xiegan Decoction treatment group were significantly higher than those in the normal control group (all P ＜ 0.01),but lower than those in EAU model group on day 12 after treatment (all P ＜ 0.01),without Notch 3 expression in the spleen and lymph nodes.In addition,Notch 1,Notch 2 and Notch 4 protein levels of the spleen and lymph nodes in Longdan Xiegan Decoction treatment group showed the similar tendency as compared to those of Notch 1,Notch 2 and Notch 4 mRNAs (all P ＜ 0.01),and the expression of Notch 3 protein was still not observed.Conclusion Longdan Xiegan Decoction can effectively relieve the imbalance of Th17/Treg cells in EAU rats,and its mechanism may involve the differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells into Th17 and Treg cells,which is regulated by Notch signaling.

Objective To investigate the regulatory roles of rno-miR-30b-5p in the expression of Atg5,Atg12 and Becn1 autophagy genes and their expressions in rats with experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU).Methods Application of dual luciferase report system was conducted to detect the regulatory roles of rno-miR-30b-5p in Atg5,Atg12 and Becn1 gene expression.Lewis rats were randomly divided into control group and EAU group,with 6 rats in each group.Next,rats in EAU group were immunized to establish EAU model.After treatments,Genesis-D fundus camera was used to observe the fundus inflammation every day.After immunization for 12 days,the pathological features of rat ciliary body and retina were detected,and meanwhile,the spleen and lymph nodes in both groups were isolated to detect the expressions of rno-miR-30b-5p,Atg5,Atg12 and Becn1 genes by quantitative PCR (Q-PCR);the levels of autophagy related proteins were determined by ELISA.Results Dual luciferase report gene expression assay confirmed that Atg5,Atg12 and Becn1 were target genes of rno-miR-30b-5p.Twelve days after immunization,compared with the control group,rats in the EAU group had severe iris adhesions and severe blood vessel swelling,and pathological examination revealed massive infiltration of inflammatory cells in the ciliary body and retina.Furthermore,rno-miR-30b-5p mRNA was 0.46 ±0.01,0.29 ±0.17in the spleen and lymph nodes in EAU group,respectively,which was down-regulated when compared with the control group (P ＜0.01);whereas the expressions of Atg5,Atg12 and Becn1 were significantly upregulated,and the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).ELISA results showed that Atg5,Atg 12 and Becn 1 protein expression levels in the spleen and lymph nodes in EAU rats were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion rno-miR-30b-5p can regulate the expressions of Atg5,Atg12 and Becn1 autophagy-related genes.The down-regulation of rno-miR-30b-5p expression in the spleen and lymph nodes in EAU rats can significantly up-regulate the expressions of Atg5,Atg12 and Becn1 genes,thereby regulating the pathogenesis of uveitis.

Objectives To explore the effect of acute smoking on vascular endothelial function,anerial stiffness and the possible underlying mechanisms. Methods We measured the endothelial function and arterial stiffness in 50 healthy chronic smokers before and after acute smoking with EndoPAT2000.The test was carried out on two separate finger tips.The endothelial function was evaluated by PAT ratio of the tinger tip and systemic arterial stiffness was evaluated by augmentation index(AI).Plasma soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1)and tissue plasminogen activator(tPA)before and 20 min after acute smoking were measured with enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay.Results The PAT ratio was decreased(1.87±0.40 VS. 1.73±0.28,P=0.004)while AI was significantly increased after acute smoking(2.94%±21.77%vs.7.11%±20.65%,P=0.01).There was no significant changes in sICAM[(306.5±76.1)μg/L vs.(315.7±90.9)μg/L,P=0.402],but tPA[7.87(5.41-10.08)μg/L vs.could acutely affect endothelia function,arterial stiffness and deteriorate the activity of fibrinolvtic system which could lead to coronary thrombosis in smokers.

Objective To compare the prognostic value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and GRACE score in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Methods A total of 246 patients with chest pain to hospital time < 24 hours were followed up to 30 days. Admission plasma B-type natriuretic peptide was measured by point-of-care. Endpoints included death, reinfarction, recurrent ischemia and new onset of congestive heart failure. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate prognostic value of BNP and GRACE score. The logistic regression models were used to assess the prognostic contribution of BNP level and GRACE score. Results The mean age was (67. 6 ± 12. 0) years (61. 8% males) and ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) was diagnosed in 135 patients (54.9% ). During the follow up, 34 endpoints ( 13. 8% ) were recorded including 9 deaths (3.7%). The systolic blood pressure [(121 ±29)mm Hg vs. (130±23)mm Hg, P=0.034; 1 mm Hg=0. 133 kPa] was significantly lower while the heart rate and plasma creatinin were significantly higher in the endpoints group than in non-endpoints group. TNI and CRP levels were similar between the two groups. The BNP level at admission (median 883.5 ng/L vs. 216.5 ng/L) and GRACE score (median 164.5 vs. 142.0) were significantly higher in the endpoints group than in non-endpoints group (all P <0. 05). The prognostic criteria for BNP level (area under cure, 0.704) was 194.5 ng/L determined by ROC(P=0. 043). For GRACE score, the predictive value for endpoints was 0. 742 ( P = 0. 003 ) and the cut-off point was 158. In the logistic regression model, BNP concentration ( > 194.5 ng/L, OR =3. 174) and GRACE score ( > 158, OR = 4. 031) were independent predictors of endpoints in patients with ACS. Conclusion Both BNP level at admission and GRACE score were independent predictors for endpoints at 30 days in patients with ACS.