Objective:Endometriosis is a common gynecologic disease that frequently leading to chronic pelvic pain,severe dysmenorrhea,and subfertility.As first-line hormonal treatment can interfere with ovulation and may cause recurrent pelvic pain,exploration of new non-hormonal therapeutic approaches becomes increasingly necessary.This review aimed to evaluate the pre-clinical and clinical efficacy and safety of non-hormonal treatment for endometriosisData sources:Databases including PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,SINOMED,ClinicalTrials.gov,and Google Scholar were searched up to October 2019,using search terms "endometriosis" and "non-hormonal therapy."Study selection:Twenty-four articles were reviewed for analysis,including nine animal studies and 15 human trials;all were published in English.Results:Twenty-four articles were identified,including 15 human trials with 861 patients and nine animal studies.Some agents have been evaluated clinically with significant efficacy in endometriosis-related pelvic pain and subfertility,such as rofecoxib,etanercept,pentoxifylline,N-palmitoylethanolamine,resveratrol,everolimus,cabergoline (Cb2),and simvastatin.Other drugs with similar pharmacological properties,like parecoxib,celecoxib,endostatin,rapamycin,quinagolide,and atorvastatin,have only been tested in animal studies.Conclusions:Clinical data about most of the non-hormonal agents are not sufficient to support them as options for replacement therapy for endometriosis.In spite of this,a few drugs like pentoxifylline showed strong potential for real clinical application.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEIn Guangxi province, from 1970s to 1990s, the mortality of primary liver cancer (PLC) ranked the first among a variety of malignant tumors. Investigating the epidemiological characteristics of PLC is very important for developing reasonable and effective treatment strategy, allocating health resources rationally, and evaluating the quality of PLC prevention and control. This study was to analyze the mortality and epidemiological characteristics of PLC in Guangxi province between 2004 and 2005.

METHODSMulti stage stratified cluster random sampling method was used to select 9 counties (cities or urban areas) as sample points. The residents' death causes between 2004 and 2005 were analyzed, and the epidemiological characteristics of PLC were investigated.

RESULTSIn the period of 2004-2005, the crude mortality of PLC was 34.39/100,000 in Guangxi province population (55.30/100,000 in men and 13.21/100,000 in women). The national population standardized mortality in 1964 was 22.17/100,000. The man to woman ratio of mortality was 4.19:1. PLC ranked as the first death cause among a variety of malignant tumors, and PLC related death accounted for 30.70% of all tumor related death cases. Age specific mortality of PLC was increased with age, rising significantly from 30 year old (from 25 year old in men and from 40 year old in women), and reached a peak at 75 year old.

CONCLUSIONSThe mortality of PLC shows a decreasing trend in Guangxi province in the early 21st century, and the starting age of PLC death peak postpones about 10 years than that in 1990s. It shows that the comprehensive prevention and control measures of PLC implemented in Guangxi province are fruitful. However, the PLC mortality in Guangxi province is still significantly higher than the national average level, and it still ranks as the first death cause in a variety of malignant tumors in Guangxi province. PLC mainly occurs in middle aged and elderly people. The prevention and treatment research of PLC still has a long way to go.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; trends ; Sex Distribution ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVECD133-positive colon cancer stem like cells (CSLCs) are resistant to the conventional cytotoxic drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Wnt signaling pathway plays important roles in colon cancer carcinogenesis and metastasis, and regulates the self-renewal capacity of CSLCs. In the present study, we explored the impact of 5-FU on Wnt signaling pathway of CD133-positive colon CSLCs, and the relation between Wnt signaling pathway and drug resistance of CD133-positive colon CSLCs.

METHODSMagnetic activation cell separation was used to collect CD133-positive cells from colon cancer cell line DLD1, which was transfected with luciferase reporter for Wnt signaling activity. The activity of Wnt signaling pathway was compared between CD133-positive and CD133-negative cells. After the treatment with 1 μg/mL of 5-FU, the cell proliferation rates of DLD1 cells, CD133-positive cells, and CD133-negative cells were compared. After the treatment with 1 μg/mL and 10 μg/mL of 5-FU for 48 h, Wnt activity was compared between CD133-positive and CD133-negative cells. The expression of CD133 and cell apoptosis of CD133-positive cells was detected after exposure to 50 ng/mL of dickkopf (DKK)-1, a Wnt pathway inhibitor.

RESULTSAfter the treatment with 5-FU, the cell proliferation rate of CD133-positive cells was higher than that of CD133-negative cells and the sensitivity of CD133-positive cells to 5-FU decreased. Wnt activity was higher in CD133-positive cells than in CD133-negative cells [(46.3 ± 0.3)% vs. (33.9 ± 2.7)%, P = 0.009]. After the treatment with 1 μg/mL and 10 μg/mL of 5-FU, Wnt activity of CD133-positive cells was (90.1 ± 10.0)% (P = 0.012) and (52.9 ± 2.5)% (P = 0.047), respectively, whereas that of CD133-negative cells was (35.5 ± 3.3)% (P = 0.434) and (26.5 ± 0.4)% (P = 0.046), respectively. CD133 expression in CD133-positive cells decreased from (87.2 ± 5.3)% to (60.6 ± 3.1)% (P = 0.022) after treatment with DKK-1, whereas the cell apoptosis rate increased from (11.8 ± 0.2)% to (28.3 ± 0.6)% (P = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONSWnt activity is higher in CD133-positive DLD1 cells than in CD133-negative DLD1 cells. 5-FU can upregulate Wnt activity of CD133-positive colon CSLCs. Blocking Wnt activity may reverse drug sensitivity of CD133-positive cells to 5-FU.

AC133 Antigen ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Fluorouracil ; pharmacology ; Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; pharmacology ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Peptides ; metabolism ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; drug effects

The epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) puts higher demands on critical care medicine. Lots of studies have been conducted to solve COVID-19-related problems. Therefore, we reviewed the annual progress for COVID-19-related issues including antivirals threapies, respiratory support and immunomodulatory therapies and other critical issues, including the effect of antibiotic on mitochondrial damage and its relationship with sepsis, the goal and direction of antimicrobial de-escalation, drug prophylaxis of constipation, bleeding in gastrointestinal disorders and management of critical illness in the informalization era and so on. We hope to provide reference for clinical and scientific research work of the intensivists.

OBJECTIVEStudies have shown that potassium channel plays a pivotal role in T cell activation. The expression of potassium channel gene KCTD9 was evidenced being highly upregulated in patients with severe hepatitis B (SHB). To understand this phenomenon further, tissue and cellular expression profiles of KCTD9 were investigated in patients with SHB.

METHODSA rabbit peptide polyclonal antibody was prepared. Various samples including peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs); livers from patients with SHB or mild chronic hepatitis B, were examined for KCTD9 expression by quantitative real time PCR and immunohistochemistry staining (IHC). Confocal microscopy was used to illustrate the localizations of the expressions.

RESULTSIncreased expression of KCTD9 was observed in PBMC in over 35.7% of the patients with SHB when compared with that of patients with mild chronic hepatitis B. In all patients, the relative value of increased KCTD9 mRNA was positively correlated with alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin but negatively with serum albumin. The expression was mainly located in hepatocytes, bile duct epithelial cells, Kupffer cells and inflammatory cells, and in the cytoplasm of PBMCs from the healthy individuals and patients with mild chronic hepatitis B, whereas in both cytoplasm and nuclei in those from patients with SHB.

CONCLUSIONThe increased expression of potassium channel gene KCTD9 correlates with disease severity in patients with viral hepatitis B.

Adult ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monocytes ; metabolism ; Potassium Channels ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in non-diabetic subjects and compare the difference between male and female subjects.

METHODSWe performed a cross-sectional survey among 2142 community-based southern Chinese participants without diabetes from June to October 2012. We divided all the participants into 4 groups according to the gender-specific quartiles of WHR. Logistic regression models were used to explore the associations of WHR with CKD in these subjects.

RESULTSIn the unadjusted model, WHR was significantly associated with CKD in women (OR=7.29, 95% CI: 3.56-16.32, P<0.001), and the association was still significant (OR=6.13, 95% CI: 2.56-15.20, P=0.003 ) after adjustment for the potential confounders (including age, history of hypertension, coronary heart disease, current smoker, physical inactivity, education level, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, serum triglyceride, serum high density lipoprotein, blood glucose, and BMI). The odds ratio (OR) for having CKD in the highest versus lowest quartile of WHR levels was 2.44 (95% CI: 0.98-4.97, P=0.103) in men in the unadjusted model.

CONCLUSIONWHR levels are associated with CKD in non-diabetic women but not in non-diabetic male subjects.

OBJECTIVETo explore the value of CT perfusion in early diagnosis and management of superacute local cerebral infarction in rhesus monkeys.

METHODAcute local cerebral infarction was induced in the rhesus monkeys during digital subtraction angiography (DSA) by introduction of pale thrombus prepared from autologous blood into the M1 branch of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Plain CT scan and CT perfusion scanning were performed at different time points before and after DSA operation, and the results were analyzed in conjunction with the pathologic changes.

RESULTSIschemic lesions were displayed on CT perfusion images, which showed local hypoperfusion, reduced cerebral blood flow and volume, and mean transit time delay in the compromised area. Local hypointense infarct area was identified in plain CT scan 24 h after the DSA operation, and the results were in good agreement with pathological examination during autopsy.

CONCLUSIONCT perfusion imaging of the brain can accurately capture the cerebral perfusion deficits in acute ischemic stroke before morphologic changes take place, and therefore provides good means for thrombolytic treatment evaluation of stroke.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; Brain Ischemia ; diagnosis ; Cerebral Infarction ; diagnosis ; Contrast Media ; administration & dosage ; Early Diagnosis ; Macaca mulatta ; Perfusion ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

Objective To investigate the bacterial resistance in nationwide and understand the distribution of bacterial and resistance trend.MethodsThe 6507 clinical isolates were collected from 19 hospitals in 17 cities.The susceptibility tests were performed using agar dilution method recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) in central laboratory.The values of MIC50,MIC90 and MICrange were calculated by SPSS 17.0 and the susceptibilities of isolates to antimicrobial agents were determined by using CLSI (2010) guideline.Of all 6507 isolates,4691 strains were collected from target wards and 1816 were isolated from others wards.ResultsAmong 4691 strains,1156 were Gram-positive (24.6％ ) and 3535 were Gram-negative (75.4％).Based on the minimum inhibitory concentration results,the prevalence of methicillin resistant Stapylococcus aureus and methicillin resistant Stapylococcus epidermidis are 51.6％ ( 325/630 ) and 87.0％ ( 228/262 ) respectively.Staphylococci showing intermediate or full resistance to vancomycin were not observed. Coagulase negative Staphylococci showed 2.5％ (16/642)intermediate rate and 1.6％ ( 10/642 ) full resistance rate to teicoplanin,and showed 0.5％ ( 3/642 )resistance rate to linezolid.Antibiotic resistance rate of Enterococcus faecalis to ampicillin was 17.1％(19/111),while the resistance rate of Enterococcus faecium to ampicillin reached up to 85.0％(164/193).Three Enterococcus faecium were resistant to glycopeptides.The prevalence of penicillin resistance Streptococcus pneumoniae and penicillin intermediate Streptococcus pneumoniae were 41.2％ ( 145/352) and 37.2％ (131/352) respectively based on oral penicillin criterion,while the prevalence were 0.0％ (0/352) and 6.0％(21/352) based on vein to non-meningitis criterion.A vast majority of Enterobacteriaceae maintained high susceptibility to carbapenems,with resistance rate less than 2.0％.In addition,tigecycline,moxalactam,fosfomycin and amikacin displayed desirable antibacterial activity against Enterbacteriaceae,and resistance rates to these drugs were all less than 10.0％.For non-fermenting Gramnegative isolates,resistance rate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii to imipenem were 23.1％ ( 139/601 ) and 53.5％ (419/784) respectively.Resistance rate of Acinetobacter baumannii was much higher than that during the period 2007 - 2008.Colistin,tigecycline,minocycline and fosfomycin demonstrated good antibacterial activity against Acinetobacter baumannii in vitro.Conclusions Compared with MOHNARIN 2007 -2008year surveillance results, significant increase in resistance rate of Acinetobacter baumannii was demonstrated.Resistant strains to linezolid and tigecycline were found.Bacterial resistance has been a widespread problem in our country,which requires much more attention.

Objective To study the relationship between familial clustering of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and the polymorphism of cytochrome P450 2E1 gene(CYP2E1)as well as of other relevant risk factors to the cancer.Methods Peripheral blood samples were collected from 91 members of 10 HCC clustering families and 102 of 10 control families,among Zhuang population,in Guangxi.The area had been with high incidence rate of HCC.Genotypes and allele frequencies of CYP2E1 Rsa I site were determined by polymerase chain reaction.combined with restriction fragment length polymorphism method (PCR-RFLP).Serum HBsAg was tested by means of ELISA.Data on relevant risk factors of the cancer were collected as well.through a unique questionnaire.Results Frequencies of c1/c1 and c1/c2 genetypes of CYP2E1 Rsa I site were 63.7%and 36.3%.respectively,in the members of families with cancer clustering phenomena.In the members of the control families.these two rates were 48.0%and 52.0%,respectively (OR=1.901,95%CI:1.067-3.387).Difference of genotypes frequencies of CYP2E1 Rsa I site between the members in these two groups was statistically significant(X2=4.797,P=0.029).According to the results from non-condition logistic regression analysis.the major risk factors on familial clustering of HCC could be listed as:intake of corns.HBsAg carrying status and CYP2E1 c1/c1 genotype.Conclusion The relationship seemed to exist between familial clustering of HCC and the frequencies of polymorphism of cytochrome P450 2E1 gene(CYP2E1).The frequencies of CYP2E1 Rsa I site were neither the only nor the major factor,causing the familial clustering phenomenon of cancel More possible,it Was the affect of syntheses with the involvement of multiple factors.

In order to visually detect H1, N1 and N2 subtype of avian influenza virus (AIV), three reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assays were developed. According to the sequences of AIV gene available in GenBank, three degenerate primer sets specific to HA gene of H1 subtype AIV, NA gene of N1 and N2 subtype AIV were designed, and the reaction conditions were optimized. The results showed that all the assays had no cross-reaction with other subtype AIV and other avian respiratory pathogens, and the detection limit was higher than that of conventional RT-PCR. These assays were performed in water bath within 50 minutes. Without opening tube, the amplification result could be directly determined by inspecting the color change of reaction system as long as these assays were fin-ished. Fourteen specimens of H1N1 subtype and eight specimens of H1N2 subtype of AIV were identified from the 120 clinical samples by RT-LAMP assays developed, which was consistent with that of virus isolation. These results suggested that the three newly developed RT-LAMEP assays were simple, specific and sensitive and had potential for visual detection of H1, N1 and N2 subtype of AIV in field.
Animals ; Chickens ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; Ducks ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza A Virus, H1N2 Subtype ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza A virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza in Birds ; diagnosis ; virology ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; methods ; Poultry Diseases ; diagnosis ; virology ; Reverse Transcription ; Turkeys