Cocaine-and amphetamine-regulated transcript(CART) peptides are endogenous neurotransmitters with important roles in a number of physiological and pathological processes in vivo.Many studies suggested that CART is widely distributed in the central nervous system,and it has some central protective effects.This article reviews the recent progress in research on the protective effect of CART on cerebral ischemia and its mechanisms.

OBJECTIVE: To survey the habits of public drug use in China and its reasons and to put forward countermeasures so as to provide reference for government and decision-making department. METHODS: From Nov. 2008 to Feb. 2009, questionnaire survey was adopted in 31 provincial administrative regions except for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. 26 000 questionnaires were collected and 1 100 physicians were interviewed. SPSS17.0 software was used to analyze 11 796 valid questionnaires statistically. The frequency of words used by physicians was counted. RESULTS: The residents don’t have enough knowledge to support them to use medicine rationally. And they are not compliant with prescription but take medicine by arbitrariness. 44.88% of residents don’t buy medicines according to prescriptions and 74.39% don’t take medicine following treatment course, stop taking medicine once symptom relieve or change the category of drugs frequently. CONCLUSION: The improvement of pharmaceutical market environment, enhancement of medication guide and popularization of medication knowledge can promote rational use of drug.

Objective To evaluate the application value of virtual touch tissue quantification (VTQ)for evaluating small focal liver lesions.Methods Seventy-seven patients with 89 small focal liver lesions,whose largest diameter were less than or equal to 3 cm were evaluated with VTQ.The shcar wave velocity (SWV) of the tumor and background liver parenchyma were calculated,and their results were compared with those of 40 healthy subjects.Statistical analysis was performed on the SWV for the differentiation of normal liver,background liver parenchyma and lesions.The cut-off point for SWV was obtained by using ROC curve analysis which was used to predict malignancy lesions.Results The SWV of malignant lesions was significantly higher than that of benign ones [(2.56-± 0.67) m/s vs (1.70 ± 0.55) m/s,P =0.000].The SWV of metastatic liver carcinoma which came from lung cancer and breast cancer were higher than that of gastrointestinal tract cancer transfers (P =0.000).Based on 1.93 m/s as the cut-off point of SWV value,the sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,positive predictive value and negative predictive value for diagnosing malignancies were 82.0 ％,84.6％,83.15 ％,87.23 ％ and 78.57 ％ respectively.Conclusions VTQ technique can help the differential diagnosis of small focal liver lesions.

Objective To investigate the effect of cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART ) peptides on cortical synaptic plasticity in ischemia-reperfusion (I/R ) injury mice. Methods A total of 288 healthy male specific pathogen free(SPF)grade Kunming mice aged 0 to 12 weeks were selected. They were divided into four groups:I/R group (n =81 ),I/R +CART group (n =81),sham operation group (n=63),and sham operation+CART group (n=63)according to the random number table method. A model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)for 2 h and reperfusion was induced. Before reperfusion,the mice of the I/R+CART group were injected CART via tail vein (0. 5μg, 200μl)and the those of the sham operation+CART group were injected equal CART;repeated administration once every 24 hours. 2,3,5-Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride assay was used to detect cerebral infarction volume of the I/R group and the I/R+CART group at different time points (24 h,72 h,and day 7 )after achieving reperfusion. The transmission electron microscope was used to observe the ultrastructural changes of synapses at different time points,and the synaptic morphological parameters were analyzed quantitatively. Western blot was used to observe the expression level of postsynaptic density 95 (PSD-95)proteins in the surrounding area of cortical infarct at 72 h after reperfusion. Results (1 )Compared with the sham operation group,the number of synapses was significantly decreased in the cortical slices in the I/R group (3. 37 ± 0. 38μm2 vs. 7. 04 ± 0. 55μm2 ,2. 89 ± 0. 22μm2 vs. 6. 89 ± 0. 04μm2 ,3. 25 ± 0. 18μm2 vs. 6. 78 ± 0. 42μm2;all P<0. 05). The density of PSD was significantly decreased (24. 4 ± 2. 8 nm vs. 47. 3 ± 6. 1 nm,23. 8 ± 3. 7 nm vs. 46. 5 ± 7. 5 nm,24. 6 ± 2. 2 nm vs. 48. 1 ± 5. 1 nm;all P <0. 05). The width of synaptic cleft was increased (25. 2 ± 2. 1 nm vs. 21. 5 ± 1. 6 nm,25. 2 ± 1. 4 nm vs. 21. 3 ± 1. 0 nm,23. 7 ± 2. 6 nm vs. 21. 6 ± 1. 6 nm;all P<0. 05). The expression level of PSD-95 protein was decreased at 72 h after reperfusion (P<0. 05). (2)Compared with the I/R group,the infarction volume of the I/R+CART group was significantly reduced at 24 h,72 h,and day 7 after reperfusion (29. 0 ± 1. 9% vs. 36. 3 ± 1. 4%,38. 1 ± 1. 4% vs. 47. 6 ± 2. 7%,and 36. 0 ± 2. 8% vs. 42. 5 ± 2. 0%,respectively;all P<0. 05). The number of synapses was significantly increased (4. 32 ± 0. 35 μm2 )and the expression level of PSD-95 protein was increased at 72 h after reperfusion (P<0. 05). The PSD density (33. 8 ± 3. 4,34. 2 ± 4. 6,38. 2 ± 4. 0 nm)was thickened at 24 h,72 h,and day 7 after reperfusion (all P <0. 05),and there were no significant differences in the width of synaptic cleft at each time point(allP>0.05).Conclusion CART can reduce cerebral infarct volume of I/R in mice and improve synaptic plasticity of cortical neurons in mice after ischemic injury.

Objective To observe the influence of renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) on renal interstitial fibrosis and transforming growth factor beta 1(TGF-β1) and microRNA-21 (miR-21) in rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO).Methods 40 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into UUO group (A group,n=10),sham UUO group (B group,n=10),RSD+UUO group (C group,n=1O) and RSD + sham UUO group (D group,n=10).Rats in A group and C group underwent unilateral ureteral ligation,while those in B group and D group underwent sham operation.Rats in C group and D group were followed by RSD.Rats were sacrificed at 21 days after the operation to evaluate the fibrosis by Masson staining.Immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting were used to detect the expressions of collagen I (COL-Ⅰ),collagen Ⅲ (COL-Ⅲ) and TGF-β1 in four groups.The expression of miR-21 was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR).Results A large amount of collagen deposition was observed in the renal interstitial area in A and C group compared to either B or D group (P ＜ 0.05),but the change in C group was decreased significantly than that in A group (P ＜ 0.05).Similarly,the expressions of COL-Ⅰ,COL-Ⅲ,TGF-β1and miR-21 were obviously higher in A and C group compared to either B or D group (P ＜ 0.05),but those change in C group were decreased significantly than those in A group (P ＜ 0.05).The above indexes were not significantly different between B group and D group (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion RSD may relieve the renal interstitial fibrosis in UUO rats,and down-regulate the expression of TGF-β1 and miR-21.

ObjectiveToinvestigatetheriskfactorsofepilepticseizuresanditseffectonclinical outcome in patients w ith cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). Methods The patients w ith CVST w ere enrol ed retrospectively. The risk factors, clinical manifestations, and imaging data w ere col ected. The data of an epileptic seizure group and a non-epileptic seizure group w ere compared. Results A total of 69 patients with CVST were enroled, including 32 (46.38%) secondary epileptic seizures. In the aspect of clinical manifestations, more patients show ed hemiplegia in the epileptic seizure group (37.50%vs.15.63%; χ2 =5.240, P=0.020). Imaging examination show ed that more patients in the epileptic seizure group presented w ith bleeding ( 29.41%vs. 10.81%; χ2 = 3.818, P= 0.047 ), more lesion involving frontal lobe (31.25%vs.10.81%; χ2 =5.008, P=0.023), and temporal lobe (43.75%vs.8.11%; χ2 =7.318, P=0.005), and the thrombosis sites w ere more common in the superior sagittal sinuses (65.63%vs.40.54%;χ2 =4.264, P=0.036). Multivariate logistic regression analysis show ed that focal neurological deficits (odds ratio 5.167, 95% confidence interval 1.993-15.764; P=0.004) and superior sagittal sinus thrombosis (odds ratio 0.126, 95% confidence interval 0.042-0.370; P=0.039) w ere the independent risk factors for patients w ith secondary epileptic seizures. There w ere no significant differences in hospital mortality (6.25%vs.2.7%; χ2 =0.512, P=0.469 ) and 90 day 90-day ful recovery rate ( defined as Barthel Index >60) (81.25%vs.86.47%; χ2 =0.346, P=0.793) betw een the epileptic seizure group and the non-epileptic seizure group. Conclusions Focal neurologic deficits and superior sagittal sinus thrombosis are the independent risk factors for secondary epileptic seizures, how ever, secondary epileptic seizures is not associ-ated w ith in-hospital mortality risk and 90-day clinical outcomes in patients w ith CVST.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in delayed perihematomal edema (dPHE) after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH).Methods:Patients with sICH admitted to Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University Medical School within 24 h of onset from January 2018 to June 2020 were enrolled retrospectively. Serum MMP-9 levels and peripheral blood cell counts were detected, and NLR were calculated within 24 h of onset. dPHE was defined as an increase of 3 ml in absolute edema volume at 10-21 d after onset of sICH compared with that at 5-9 d. The demographic and baseline clinical and imaging data of the dPHE group and the non-dPHE group were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent predictors of dPHE. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive values of MMP-9 and NLR for dPHE. Results:A total of 195 patients with sICH (61.88±10.60 years old) were enrolled in the study. One hundred and forty-eight patients were males (75.9%). There were 53 patients (27.2%) in the dPHE group and 142 (72.8%) in the non-dPHE group. Univariate analysis showed that age, baseline hematoma volume, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, fasting blood glucose, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, MMP-9, neutrophil count, NLR and the proportion of irregular hematoma in the dPHE group were significantly higher than those in the non-dPHE group (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for confounding factors, higher MMP-9 (odds ratio [ OR] 4.291, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 2.041-6.590; P=0.007) and higher NLR ( OR 2.530, 95% CI 1.157-4.022; P=0.011) were all the independent predictors of dPHE. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of MMP-9 for predicting dPHE was 0.819 (95% CI 0.756-0.884; P<0.001), the optimal cut-off value was 164.0 μg/L, and the sensitivity and specificity were 86.79% and 66.90% respectively. The area under the curve of NLR for predicting dPHE was 0.788 (95% CI 0.719-0.856; P<0.001), the optimal cut-off value was 5.683, and the corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 77.36% and 71.13% respectively. Conclusions:sICH patients with higher baseline MMP-9 and NLR are more likely to develop dPHE. Early detection of MMP-9 and NLR in peripheral blood after admission can predict dPHE.

OBJECTIVE:To explore the clinical related factors of leucopenia induced by azathioprine in the treatment of inflam-matory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS:Clinical information of 114 IBD patients were collected from our hospital during Jan. 2013-Mar. 2015. Steady concentration of AZA metabolite 6-thioguanine(6-TGNs)in red blood cell was determined by HPLC. The correlation of patient’s gender,age,diseases,AZA daily dose and blood concentration of 6-TGNs with leucopenia induced by AZA were investigated. The optimal critical value of leucopenia could be predicted with ROC curves. RESULTS:Among 114 IBD patients,40 patients suffered from leucopenia(35.1%). There was no statistical significance in the proportion of leucopenia among patients with different age,gender,diseases and AZA daily dose(P>0.05). There was statistical significance in the proportion of leucopenia among patients with different concentrations of 6-TGNs(P<0.05). Mean blood concentration of 6-TGNs in leukopenia patients [(407.82±262.88)pmol/(8×108)RBC] was higher than patients with normal leukocyte level [(275.85±118.37)pmol/(8× 108)RBC],with statistical significance(P<0.05). ROC curve predicted that the optimal critical value of leucopenia was blood con-centration of 6-TGNs>291.04 pmol/(8 × 108)RBC. CONCLUSIONS:AZA induced leucopenia may be related to the concentration of 6-TGNs in red blood cell of IBD patients,and high concentration of 6-TGNs is risk factors of leucopenia. Clinicians can provide AZA individual treatment for IBD patient to reduce the occurrence of leucopenia according to routine blood test and the concentra-tion of 6-TGNs.

BACKGROUND: In animal experiments, ultrasound-mediated microbubbles can promote the homing of transplanted stem cells to the ischemic area, enhance angiogenesis and small arterial formation, improve local blood flow in the ischemic myocardium and restore myocardial contractility.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of ultrasound-mediated microbubbles on intravenously transplanted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) homing and the therapeutic efficiency on ischemic stroke. METHODS: A middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was induced by plug wire preparation. At 72 hours after MCAO, model rats were randomized into four groups: PBS group (n=15), BMSCs group (n=18), ultrasound+BMSCs group (n=18), ultrasound+microbubble+BMSCs group (n=18). Corresponding treatment was done in each group: 2 mL of PBS was injected via tail vein in the PBS group; about 3×106 BMSCs diluted by 2 mL of PBS were injected via tail vein slowly in the BMSCs group; after skull ultrasound radiation (1 MHz, 2 W/cm2) for 120 seconds, BMSCs were injected via tail vein slowly in the ultrasound+BMSCs group; the same process as the ultrasound+BMSCs group was done following intravenous injection of 0.1 mL/kg microbubbles in the ultrasound+microbubble+BMSCs group.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Forty-eight hours after BMSCs transplantation, the BMSCs homing rate in the brain was significantly higher in the ultrasound+microbubble+BMSCs group than the other two groups (P < 0.05). (2) Twenty-eight days after MCAO, nerve damage was significantly milder in the ultrasound+microbubble+BMSCs group than the other two groups (P < 0.05). (3) Seven days after transplantation, the water content in the brain tissue was significantly lower in the ultrasound+microbubble+BMSCs group than the other two groups (P < 0.05). (4) Seven days after transplantation, the cerebral infarction volume was significantly reduced in the ultrasound+microbubble+BMSCs group compared with the other two groups (P < 0.05). To conclude, ultrasound-mediated microbubbles can enhance the homing effect of intravenously transplanted BMSCs, reduce cerebral edema and cerebral infarction volume, improve the neurological function, and increase the therapeutic effect of BMSCs transplantation on ischemic stroke.

We aim to develop and implement a disaster medicine curriculum for medical student education,so the six-step approach to curriculum development for medical education has been used as a formal process instrument. Recognized experts in disaster health care have provided input using disaster-related physician training programs, scientific evidence if available, proposals for education by international disaster medicine organizations and their expertise as the basis for content development. The final course consists of 14 modules composed of 2-h units. The concepts of disaster medicine, including response, med-ical assistance, law, command, coordination, communication, and mass casualty management, are intro-duced. Hospital preparedness plans and experiences from worldwide disaster assistance are reviewed. Life-saving emergency and limited individual treatment under disaster conditions are discussed . Specifics of initial management of explosive, war-related, radiological/nuclear, chemical, and biological incidents empha-sizing infectious diseases and terrorist attacks are presented. An evacuation exercise is completed, and a mass casualty triage is simulated in collaboration with local disaster response agencies. Decontamination procedures are demonstrated at the local fire department, and personal decontamination practices are exer-cised. Mannequin resuscitation is practiced while personal protective equipment is utilized. An interactive review of professional ethics, stress disorders, psychosocial interventions, and quality improvement efforts complete the training. The curriculum offers medical disaster education in a reasonable time frame, interdis-ciplinary format, multi-experiential course and flexible structure. It can serve as a template for basic medi-cal student disaster education.