Objective To test the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of Profile of Fatigue Scale (PROF)among the patients with Sjogren′s syndrome. Methods The English version of PROF was translated into Chinese according to Brislin Translation Model. 107 patients with Sjogren′s syndrome were investigated to test its reliability and validity. Results The Cronbachαcoefficient , Guttman split-half coefficient, test-retest reliability and content validity of Chinese version of PROF were 0.976, 0.953, 0.872 and 0.875. Two factors were extracted by factor analysis and the cumulated variance was 80.75%. The structure of PROF was in line with the original scale. The criterion-related validity was 0.621 measured by comparing with visual analog scale of fatigue, and was -0.707 measured by comparing with vitality domain in the MOS item Short From Health Survey (SF-36). Conclusions The Chinese version of PROF has been proved to be reliable and valid. It can be used to measure the fatigue in Chinese patients with Sjogren′s syndrome.

Objective:To explore the effect of 1-methyltryptophan (1-MT) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced permeability and apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).Methods:HUVECs were treated with phosphate buffer saline (PBS, control group), 1 μg/mL LPS (LPS group), and LPS combined with 1 mmol/L 1-MT (1-MT group). The expression levels of the p120 concatemer (p120ctn), vascular endothelial (VE) cadherin, caspase-3, and DNA repair enzyme polyadenylate ribose polymerase-1 (PARP) after incubation at 8 h were detected using Western blot. The concentrations of kynurenine (Kyn) after incubation at 2, 4, 6, and 8 h were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, and indoleamine2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) activity was calculated. Comparisons among groups were performed using the LSD- t test. Results:Compared with the control group, the expression of caspase-3 [(74.01±7.91)% vs (157.14±7.63)%, P<0.01] and the concentration of Kyn were significantly up-regulated, while the expression of p120ctn [(49.12±2.15)% vs (37.61±1.80)%, P<0.01], VE-cadherin [(107.70±7.01)% vs (90.66±2.58)%, P=0.027], and PARP-1 [(67.95± 3.08)% vs (57.93±5.26)%, P=0.038] were significantly down-regulated, and IDO activity was significantly increased in the LPS group ( P<0.05). Compared with the LPS group, the expression of caspase-3 [(157.14±7.63)% vs (110.74±7.89)%, P<0.01] was significantly down-regulated, while the expression of p120ctn [(37.61±1.80)% vs (47.19±0.82)%, P<0.01], VE-cadherin [(90.66±2.58)% vs (107.27±9.89)%, P=0.029], and PARP-1 [(57.93±5.26)% vs (74.12±4.90)%, P=0.005] were significantly up-regulated, and the activity of IDO was significantly decreased over time in the 1-MT group ( P<0.05). No significant differences were observed between the PBS and 1-MT groups in the protein levels of p120ctn, VE-cadherin, and PARP-1 protein as well as Kyn concentration and IDO activity ( P>0.05), while the expression of caspase-3 was increased in 1-MT group ( P=0.001). Conclusions:LPS aggravates the permeability of HUVECs, which can be reversed by 1-MT via inhibiting IDO activity and reducing Kyn concentrations. Moreover, 1-MT can also reduce apoptosis, which may be via increasing the expression of PARP-1 and reducing the expression of caspase-3, thus protecting endothelial cells.

OBJECTIVETo observe the impact of tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines contained in Yiqi Qingwen Jiedu mixture on mRNA expression of lung inflammatory cytokines and pulmonary pathological injury of mice infected by influenza virus, in order to discuss the mechanism of tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines against pulmonary immune inflammatory injury of infected mice.

METHODIn different time phases after mice were infected with influenza virus FM1, the RT-PCR method was adopted to observe the impact of tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines contained in Yiqi Qingwen Jiedu mixture on five inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ, and the changes in pulmonary pathological injury of mice with viral pneumonia after intervention with tonifying qi traditional Chinese medicines.

RESULT(1) Tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines significantly reduced the mRNA expression of TNF-α at 1-5 d and IL-1 mRNA expression at 7 d, may increase IL-1 mRNA expression in mouse lung at 3 d, significantly reduced IL-6 mRNA expression in mouse lung and increased IL-10 mRNA expression at 3-7 d, and significantly increased IFN-γ mRNA expression at 1 d. (2) Tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines could significantly inhibited and repaired pulmonary immune inflammatory injury of mice infected by FM1, which was most remarkable at 3-7 d after the infection with influenza virus FM1.

CONCLUSIONTonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines contained in Yiqi Qingwen Jiedu mixture could resist pulmonary immune inflammatory injury and repair inflammatory injury by regulating the mRNA expression of imbalance inflammatory cytokines of organisms infected with influenza virus.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; drug effects ; immunology ; Influenza, Human ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; immunology ; Interleukin-1 ; genetics ; immunology ; Interleukin-10 ; genetics ; immunology ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; immunology ; Lung ; immunology ; virology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; immunology

Objective To investigate the application of the cross-sectional area ratio of internal jugular vein and common carotid artery (IJV/CCA) in the evaluating the volume responsiveness of critically ill patients. Methods The capacity of critically ill patients were prospectively assessed. The diameter and sectional area of the IJV and CCA were measured by bedside ultrasonography. The cross-sectional area ratio of IJV/CCA was calculated and compared with the variety of cardiac output (ΔCO) after passive leg raising (PLR). Then the correlation index between the cross-sectional area ratio of IJV/CCA and ΔCO was evaluated, and the sensitivity and specificity parameters of capacity status were assessed by the cross-sectional area ratio of IJV/CCA. Results Of 55 critically ill patients in this study, 34 cases had positive volume responsiveness, and 21 case negative volume responsiveness.The general clinical data of the two groups had no statistically significant difference. The cross-sectional area ratio of IJV/CCA in the positive group was significantly less than that of the negative group (1.38±0.55 vs. 2.16±0.68, P<0.01). There was a significant correlation between the IJV/CCA cross-sectional area ratio and the ΔCO value of PLR (r=-0.67, P<0.01). When the ratio of the cross-sectional area of IJV/CCA was 1.65, the sensitivity of the assessment capacity was 86.4％ and the specificity was 78.8％. Conclusions The use of portable bedside ultrasonography is a noninvasive, convenient and reliable method to evaluate the capacity state of the critically ill patients.

Objective:To evaluate the impact and analyze the mechanism of separating drug sales from medical services reform on the total medical expenditure containment of outpatient services in Beijing. Methods:The monitoring data and historical data from 89 third-level,78 second-level public hospitals,and 206 primary health institutions and community health service agencies,which participated in the reform,were analysed to estimate the impacts on outpa-tient service utilization and service price. The analysis was based on the data of the first and second quarters of 2016 outpatient and emergency department fee changes,and analysis of service utilization and service price factors on the im-pact of changes in outpatient and emergency services mechanism. Results:The total outpatients'expenditure in Beijing in the second quarter of 2017 was 17.38 billion yuan,representing a slight decrease of 1.14% than the expenditure in 2016. The growth rate reduced by 2.46%. Expenditure in third-level and second-level hospitals decreased by 2.82% and 3.02%,respectively,with reductions in growth rates of 4.06% and 3.74% respectively. Expenditure in primary institutions increased by 17.09%. The increase rate in the second quarter of 2017 was 26.28%,representing a remark-able increase compared to the rate in 2016(15.84%). The contribution from the medical institution service prices and service utilization to the change of outpatient and emergency medical expenditure containment was 6.98% and -7. 65%,respectively. For third-level hospitals,the contribution was 10.37% and -12.00%,respectively;second-level hospitals were 0.72% and -3.35%,respectively;and the primary health institutions was 6.08% and 9.57%. Con-clusions:Beijing's comprehensive reform of separating drug sales from medical services reform has effectively controlled the rising medical expenditure of outpatient services,mainly by adjusting outpatients service utilization between differ-ent level healthcare institutions.

Objective: To study the efficacy, safety and long-term outcomes of integrated strategy of bortezomib-based induction regimens followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell (ASCT) and maintenance therapy in Chinese multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Methods: 200 MM patients receiving integrated strategy of bortezomib--based induction regimens followed by ASCT and maintenance therapy were retrospectively and prospectively analyzed from December 1. 2006 to April 30. 2018. Results: The complete remission rates (CR) and better than very good partial remission rates (VGPR) after induction therapy, transplantation and maintenance therapy were respectively 31% and 75.5%, 51.8% and 87.7%,73.6% and 93.4%. There was no difference between 4 cycles and more than 5 cycles induction chemotherapy. The negative rate of MRD detection by flow cytometry was 17.6% and 38.2% respectively after induction and 3 months after transplantation. The negative rate of MRD gradually increased during the maintenance therapy. The success rate of high dose CTX combined with G-CSF mobilization was 95.5% and transplantation related mortality (TRM) was zero. The median time to progress (TTP) was 75.3 months and the median overall survival (OS) was 99.5 months. TTP of patients obtaining CR and negative MRD after induction were longer that those of no CR and positive MRD. TTP and OS of patients receiving triple-drug induction and ASCT in early stage were longer than those of double-drug induction and ASCT in late stage. LDH≥240 U/L, high risk cytogenetics, ISS II+III stage and HBsAg positive were prognostic factors at diagnosis. However, only MRD and high risk cytogenetics were independent prognostic factors after transplantation and maintenance therapy. The clinical characteristics of patients of TTP ≥6 years were listed below: light-chain type M protein, ISS I stage, normal level of hemoglobin and platelet, normal LDH, HBsAg negative, chromosome 17p-negative, good response and sustained good response. Conclusions: Integrated strategy of bortezomib-based induction regimens followed by ASCT and maintenance therapy can significantly improve the short-term and long-term efficacy. The prognostic factors of TTP in different disease stages were different. Response to treatment, especially MRD, played a more important role in prognostic factors.
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Bortezomib/therapeutic use* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Multiple Myeloma/therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Treatment Outcome

Objective::Astragali Radix is an important medicinal and edible herb. To achieve standardized cultivation of Astragali Radix and improve cultivation results, Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus was cultivated with a row spacing of 30 cm and different plant spacing (8, 10, 12, 14, 16 cm) in a test base of Longxi County, Gansu Province. Method::The growth and development dynamics of green strains and the yield and quality of medicinal materials were measured, and the comprehensive evaluation of membership function was used to determine the rational transplanting density and explore the standard production technology of A. membranaceus var. mongholicus. Result::The transplanting topping had a significant effect on the growth and development of A. membranaceus var. mongholicus under the condition of the row spacing of 30 cm. With the increase of topping, the biomass of astragalus on the ground decreased, and the ratio of root to shoot increased, but the yield of medicinal material per unit area decreased. The appearance traits were improved as the transplant density decreased. Under the row spacing of 14 cm, the content of astragaloside and calycosin-7-glucoside were the highest. Under the row spacing of 8-16 cm, the content of root extract of Astragali Radix was better than the Chinese Pharmacopoeia standard. The comprehensive evaluation index of each plant spacing treatment was 14 cm>16 cm>10 cm>8 cm>12 cm in turn. Conclusion::Combined with the comprehensive evaluation of yield and economic benefit, the optimal transplanting plant spacing and row spacing were 30 cm×14 cm (with the density of 238 100 strains/hm²). Under this density, A. membranaceus var. mongholicus grows vigorously, with thick stems, big root crowns, a high yield and high quality.