Objective To investigate the effects of Shexiangbaoxin pills (SXBXP) on the serum levels of T helper type 1 (Th1) cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-α),interferon-γ(IFN-γ) and T helper type 2 (Th2) cytokines incloding interleukin-4 (IL-4),interleukin-10 (IL-10)in rats with chronic heart failure (CHF).Methods The CHF models were established by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation.Fifty-four Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups:control group,sham operation group,CHF model group,small dose SXBXP group,large dose SXBXP group and positive medicine group.Heart function was examined by echocardiography before and after therapy,the TNF-α and IL-10 levels were measured by radioimmunoassay,IFN-γ and IL-4 levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results (1) Before therapy,there was no significant difference between control group and sham operation group in ejection fraction of left ventricle (LVEF).Compared with control group and sham operation group,the levels of LVEF were significantly decreased in CHF model group,small dose SXBXP group,large dose SXBXP group and positive medicine group (all P＜0.01).(2) After therapy,compared with sham operation group,the serum levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ were markedly increased,and IL-4 and IL-10 were significantly decreased in CHF model group (all P＜0.01 ).Compared with CHF model group,LVEF was significantly improved,serum levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ were markedly decreased,IL-4 and IL-10 were markedly increased in large dose SXBXP group (all P＜0.05).In small dose SXBXP group,serum levels of IFN-γ were markedly decreased and IL-10 were markedly increased (all P＜0.05).In positive medicine group,serum levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ were markedly decreased and IL-10 were markedly increased (all P＜0.05).In small dose SXBXP group and positive medicine group,serum levels of IL-4 increased and LVEF decreased,even though there was no significant difference compared with CHF model group.Conclusions The SXBXP therapy of rats with CHF induced by myocardial infarction improves the heart function,decreases the serum levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ,and increases serum levels of IL-4 and IL-10.

Objective Previous study found TGF-βpathway might be the molecular pathway influencing the prognosis of colo-rectal cancer, while it was uncertain whether Chinese population is associated with the disease.The article was to evaluate the genetic factors associated with prognosis in colorectal cancer. Methods 52 cases patients with colorectal cancer were followed-up for 36 months in our hospitals from January 2013 to August 2014.Their DNAs were extracted and stored and gene typing were carried out in 5 candidate genes to detect the association between SNPs and the prognosis in colorectal cancer. Results The results showed that within the TGF-βsignaling pathway, after adjusting for Bonferroni multiple testing, allele A of SNP rs10749971 located in gene POU2AF1 was associated with the recurrence of patients with stage III disease under additive and recessive genetic models ( HR =1.968, P=0.004;HR=2.174, P=0.010).Allele C of SNP rs961253 in the gene BMP2 could increase the recurrence risk (HR=1.992, P=0.005) and the death risk (HR=3.161, P=0.007) of patients with stage III disease under recessive genetic models.Allele A of SNP rs4464148 in SMAD7 gene could significantly decrease the death risk of patients with stage II and III colorectal cancer under dominant genetic model (HR=0.382, P=0.017;HR=0.230, P=0.006).In addition, accumulated effects of several adverse genes showed gene high risk group could increase the risk of death for patients with stage III colorectal cancer significantly ( HR=15.512, P=0.036;95%CI:1.611-149.360). Conclusion In different genetic models, SNP locus mutation within gene POU2AF1, BMP2 and SMAD7 on TGF-βpathway was associated with the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer.With the increase of the number of unfavorable genes, the death risk increases accordingly.

Objective To investigate the effect of immune modulation therapy on heart function and cytokines in elder patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods The 96 patients aged 60-78 years with New York Heart Association(NYHA)functional. class Ⅱ-Ⅳ CHF were randomly divided into two groups: CHF treatment group received regular therapy and thymopetidum and CHF control group received regular therapy. Another 45 healthy individuals aged 60-80 years were involved as normal control. The ejection faction of left ventricle (LVEF), inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10), plasma high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), plasma brain natrium peptide (BNP)and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (LHFQ) assessment were tested before therapy, 15 days and 75 days after treatment. Results (1) Before therapy, compared with normal control group, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, TNF-α/IL-10 ratio, BNP, hsCRP and LHFQ were significantly increased (P ＜ 0. 05 or P ＜ 0. 01 ), and the levels of IL-10, LVEF were markedly decreased (P＜0.01) in the patients of CHF treatment group and CHF control group. While no difference between the two CHF groups was observed. (2) After the first course of treatment,compared with CHF control group, the levels of IL-10 were increased (P＜0. 01), while the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, BNP and hsCRP were decreased (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01) in CHF treatment group. The level of LVEF was increased, TNF-α/IL-10 ratio (4.84 ±0. 53 vs. 5.28±0. 66) and LHFQ were decreased even though there was no significant difference between the two groups. (3) After the second course of treatment, compared with CHF control group, the levels of IL-10 and LVEF were increased (P＜0. 05 or P＜0.01), while the level of TNF-α, IL-1β, TNF-α/IL-10 ratio (4.55±0. 69 vs. 5.18±0.38), BNP, hsCRP and LHFQ were decreased (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01) in CHF treatment group. Conclusions Thymopetidum, as an immunemodulating agent, might regulate the equilibrium of cytokines and improve the heart function of patients with CHF, indicating that immune modulation therapy might improve the treatment strategy for CHF patients.

To enhance the production of ε-poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) by improving dissolved oxygen level of the fermentation system, different oxygen-vectors were added to broth and n-dodecane was screened as the best oxygen-vector. The best amount of n-dodecane was 0.5% (V/V) and the best time was at start of the fermentation. In a fed-batch fermentation in a 5 L bioreactor, ε-PL concentration reached a maximum of (30.8 ± 0.46) g/L and the dry cell weight obtained was (33.8 ± 0.29) g/L, increasing by 31.6% and 20.7% compared with the control group, respectively. This improvement can be related to 0.5% n-dodecane could maintain dissolved oxygen concentration > 32% of air concentration compared with 23.8% in ε-PL production phase, and the production of a main by-product, poly-L-diaminopropionic acid, fell by 31%. These results indicated that the dissolved oxygen level in the broth was improved by adding n-dodecane, which can inhibit the by-product production and improve the biosynthesis of ε-PL.
Alkanes ; chemistry ; Batch Cell Culture Techniques ; Bioreactors ; Fermentation ; Oxygen ; chemistry ; Polylysine ; biosynthesis

Objective To investigate the knowledge and attitude of nurses on prevention and intervention of common complications among bedridden patients in Chinese hospitals and to explore the influential factors.Methods It was a cross-sectional study.A total of 3 903 nurses from 6 tertiary hospitals,11 secondary hospitals and 8 primary hospitals from 6 provinces and cities were recruited by convenience sampling and surveyed using selfdesigned questionnaires.Results Nurses' average scoring rate of knowledge and attitude were 73.46％ and 85.02％.Level of hospitals,whether in ICU or not,age,working time,educational background,job title,position,employment form were influential factors for nurses' knowledge (P＜0.05).Meanwhile,level of hospitals,educational background,position,employment form were influential factors for nurses' attitude (P＜0.05).Conclusion Nurses took a positive attitude for prevention and intervention of common complications among bedridden patients,while the level of nurses' knowledge should be improved.

We retrospectively analyzed 126 children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)admitted from January to December 2017,including 65 cases of systemic-onset JIA (SoJIA) and 61 cases of other types of JIA.The value of serum amyloid A protein (SAA) in the identification of the disease activity and infection in children with SoJIA was assessed.The area under the ROC curve of SAA in identification of disease activation of SoJIA patients was 0.934,which was not significantly different with other types of JIA.With the cut-off value of 68.32 mg/L the sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of SoJIA activity were 0.913 and 0.892 respectively.In SoJIA patients the SAA was closely correlated with ESR and CRP (r=0.721 and 0.699,P＜0.001).The SAA level was significantly higher in the disease active stage than that in stable stage,in the stable stage with infection than that in the stable stage without infection of SoJIA patients.There were also significant differences in platelet and CRP between active disease with infection and active disease without infection.SAA is expected to be used for assessing disease activity of SoJIA,if combined with platelet and CRP,it may be of value in the identification of the complicating infection.

Objective To investigate the association between peripheral white blood cell count including its subtypes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and one-year all-cause mortality in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients.Methods A total of 371 MHD patients at Zhongshan Hospital,Fudan University between March 2009 and February,2011 were enrolled.Demographic,hematological,nutritional and inflammatory markers were obtained.All patients were followed for one year to investigate the risks for CVD event and mortality.Spearman correlation and linear regression were used to assess the relationship between white blood cell count and other laboratory parameters.Difference in categorical factors between two groups were determined with Chi-square test,Difference in continuous values between two groups were assessed with t test.Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards model were applied to assess one-year mortality predictors.Results Patients with CVD event had lower lymphocyte count level (1.17±0.38 vs 1.34±0.51,P＜ 0.05) and higher monocyte count level (0.44 ± 0.15 vs 0.37 ± 0.15,P＜0.01) than those without CVD event.Cox proportional hazard regression showed that an increased lymphocyte count was associated with reduced mortality risk,95％CI:0.136-0.719,P ＜ 0.01) and that an increased monocyte count was associated with increased mortality risk,95％ CI:2.657-74.396,P＜0.01) after adjustment for hsCRP.Conclusion Decreased lymphocyte level and increased monocyte level are significantly related to CVD event and are independent predictors of increased one-year all-cause mortality risk in MHD patients.

We designed and applied the electronic data capture system (EDC) in order to strengthen the re-search quality and improve the efficiency of data collection of multi-center nursing research. According to the needs of research,we reasonably designed the EDC structure and functions,including data collection,verification, summary and export. Further improvement was performed after EDC was inputted into using. By using EDC,resear-chers from sub-centers completed the data collection smoothly,and the data quality met with research requirements. The design and application of EDC could effectively guarantee the data quality and improve the research efficiency.

Objective To investigate the incidence and risk factors of the complications in perioperative intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) supported cardiac surgical patients. Methods The clinical data of adult cardiac surgery patients undergoing IABP in Fuwai Hospital from January 2005 to January 2017 were enrolled. The patients were divided into complications group and no complications group. Demographic characteristics, diagnosis, perioperative clinical parameters, IABP related data, and IABP complications (including ischemia, bleeding, vascular injury and mechanical problems) were collected. The incremental risk factors of complications related IABP were analyzed by logistic regression. Results During the 12-year period, 522 patients received IABP support, with 388 male and 134 female; the mean age was (61.79±9.35) years; the complications related to IABP occurred in 25 patients, and overall complication rate was 4.79%; 87 IABP patients were dead in-hospital, the overall mortality was 16.67%, no patient died due to complications. The complications rate was higher in the female patients (40.00% vs. 24.95%), and was more in patients with age ≥ 65 years old (80.00% vs. 38.03%), more with higher body mass index [BMI (kg/m2): 25.45±13.71 vs. 22.95±3.45], diabetes mellitus (44.00% vs. 26.76%), combination treatment with extra-corporeal membranous oxygenation (ECMO: 20.00% vs. 5.03%) and prolonged IABP support time (hours: 134.4±90.3 vs. 109.8±89.1, all P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications among preoperative IABP support, intra-operative IABP support and post-operative IABP support [3.30% (3/91), 5.46% (10/183), 4.84% (12/248), χ 2 =0.629, P = 0.730]. Bleeding from puncture site occurred in 14 cases (2.68%) without severe bleeding. Limb ischemia occurred in 9 cases (1.72%). One patient (0.19%) was under another surgery because of retroperitoneal hemorrhage caused by vascular injury. One patient (0.19%) was unsuccessful due to a balloon leak. It was shown by logistic regression analysis that presence of age ≥ 65 years [odds ratio (OR) = 2.320, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.011-1.806, P = 0.047], diabetes mellitus (OR = 2.281, 95%CI = 1.016-5.120, P = 0.026) and combination treatment with ECMO (OR = 4.341, 95%CI = 1.240-15.196, P = 0.040) were found to be the risk factors of complications related to IABP. Conclusions IABP complication rates are generally low. The frequent complications during IABP support is bleeding from site of catheterization and limb ischemia. When patients were treated with IABP, those with older age, diabetes mellitus and combination with ECMO should be monitored closely in order to reduce complications.