Objective Direct amplification of length polymorphism (DALP) as a new molecular marker was used to establish a set of stable DALP reaction system for the plants of Rhodiola L. Methods Some significant parameters of DALP reaction procedure were investigated and optimized by taking the DNA genome for the plants of Rhodiola L. as template. Results The reaction system was : 20 ?L reaction system containing 2. 5 mmol/L Mg2+ , 1. 25 mmol/L dNTPs, 60 ng DNA template, 1 ?L 5 pmol/L selective primer, 3 ?L 5 pmol/L reverse primer, selective primer: reverse primer is 1 : 3, and 2 U Taq DNA polymerase. Amplification program is 95℃ pre-denatured for 5 min, 94℃ denatured for 30 s, 50℃ annealed for 30 s, 72℃ extending for 1 min; after 30 cycles, and then 72℃ extending again for 10 min to the end of PCR reaction. Conclusion This DALP reaction system is efficient to identify the species and local populations for the plants of Rhodiola L. repeatedly with the stronger stability and reliability.

Objective To investigate effectiveness of anthropometric parameters and body composition analysis for the screening and prediction of metabolic syndrome and explore the best indicator for predicting metabolic syndrome in the elderly. Method A cross-sectional study of 763 (406 men and 357 women) elderly people who participated in the annual health check-up was conducted. Clinical data of all participants were obtained including anthropometric parameters, body composition, lipid profiles, fasting blood glucose, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the optimal cutoff points for waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, percent body fat and fat mass index in relation to the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity in the screening and prediction of metabolic syndrome. Result In total subjects, compared with non-metabolic syndrome group,the ROC curve analysis showed that parameters including waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, waist-to-hip ratio, percent body fat and fat mass index had a significant potential for predicting metabolic syndrome (P<0.001). It was determined that waist circumference of 87.5 cm and 77.5 cm, waist-to-hip ratio of 0.89 and 0.87, waist-to-height ratio of 0.51 and 0.52, percent body fat of 24.1%and 31.7%and fat mass index of 5.00 kg/m2 and 7.80 kg/m2 were the optimal cutoff points for screening and predicting the presence of metabolic syndrome among men and women with a sensitivity of 81.3%,78.8%,87.5%, 51.3%and 83.8%(in men) and 85.1%,79.8%,71.3%, 70.2%and 80.9%(in women) and a specificity of 57.7%,62.6%,50.0%, 75.5%and 51.8%(in men) and 38.0%,53.2%,55.1%, 50.6%and 52.5% (in women),respectively. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.728, 0.755, 0.716, 0.671 and 0.725 in men and 0.652, 0.707, 0.658, 0.619 and 0.675 in women,respectively. Waist-to-hip ratio showed the highest AUC in all the parameters in men and women. Conclusion Anthropometric parameters and body composition analysis play important roles in the screening and prediction of metabolic syndrome, and waist-to-hip ratio seems to be the best parameter in the screening and prediction of metabolic syndrome in the elderly.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor is a common pancreatic tumor with high heterogeneity and multiple management modalities. A standard and practical staging system for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors will be beneficial to clinical management and research. At present, there are two staging systems (ENETS and AJCC). Both of them have shortcomings which limit their clinical application. In addition, the coexistence of two staging systems is confusing to clinicians. We proposed a modified ENETS staging system by keeping the ENETS TNM definition and adopting the AJCC staging definition. The modified staging system can successfully distinguish patients with different prognosis and is helpful in establishing clinical standard. This study has been published in Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) and was selected as 2017 Best of JCO: Gastrointestinal edition. This paper was aimed to interpret the modified staging system in clinical practice.

Objective: To investigate the status of electronic cigarette use among adolescents in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and to provide evidence for tobacco control in adolescents. Methods: Based on the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Epidemic Monitoring Program, multistage proportional sampling method was used to select middle school students from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. A questionnaire revised by Chinese CDC was used to collect the general information, the cognition and use of electronic cigarettes, and the access to advertising of electronic cigarettes and related products. Results: Totally 9 019 questionnaires were distributed, 8 401 valid ones were recovered, and the response rate was 93.2%. The rates of electronic cigarette use and attempt among students were 4.3% and 13.4%. The rates of electronic cigarette use and attempt in male students were 7.7% and 22.9%, which were higher than that in female students (0.8% and 3.8%, P<0.05) . The rates of electronic cigarette use and attempt varied in different schools ( P<0.05 ), which were higher in vocational high school students ( 11.5% and 26.8% ). Among 246 students who used electronic cigarettes, 30.1% did not thought electronic cigarettes contained nicotine, while 60.2% did not know whether electronic cigarettes contain nicotine. In the past 30 days, 27.0% of the students had seen the advertisements of electronic cigarettes and related products, mainly through TV, store, supermarket, convenience store, grocery store, electronic cigarette experience store or retail store. Conclusions The rates of electronic cigarette use and attempt among adolescents in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region are 4.3% and 13.4%. Boys and vocational high school students have higher rates. Students generally know electronic cigarette and have more access to it.

The high molecular weight genomic DNA of yeast was extracted using three methods.Products were separated on agarose gel electrophoresis,quantified by spectrophotometer ND-1000 and restricted by EcoRⅠand MesⅠ.The result was shown that the genomic DNA extracted by modified benzyl chloride method was the best.The products of wild isolates supported it,too.This method was suitable for restriction of genomic DNA from yeast.

Objective: To compare tea polysaccharides(TPS) characteristics and their role in scavenging free radicals and reducing blood glucose(BG) in diabetic mice(DM). Methods: TPS was extracted from green,Oolong and black tea which were made from the same fresh leaves from Hubei,Fujian and Yunnan. Then the recovery rate of TPS, contents of neutral sugar, uronic acid and protein were analysed, and scavenging rate of -2Oand 稯H in vitro and hypoglycemic effect were also determined. Results: 1. The yield and contents of neutral sugar, uronic acid and protein of green tea TPS were the highest, and those of black tea TPS were the lowest. Oolong tea TPS acted the best in scavenging-2O and 稯H . 2. The hypoglycemic effect of TPS from Hubei tea was the best . The effect of TPS extracted from semi-fermented Oolong tea and fermented black tea was better than that of non-fermented green tea. 3. There were obvious differences in yield, free radical scavenging rate and effect of reducing BG among TPS extracted from tea in different regions. TPS extracted from Fujian tea had the best effect in reducing BG,but that from Yunnan tea had not. Conclusion: There was remarkable effect of region and process on physico-chemical characteristics,effect of scavenging radical and reducing blood sugar TSP.

Objective To evaluate the endoscopic and pathologic characteristics and etiological ex-amination of viral esophagitis. Methods The data of 16 patients with viral esophagitis, including endoscop-ic, pathological and immunohistochemical findings were retrospectively studied. Results Endoscopic find-ings of viral esophagitis were characterized by single or multiple round and oval ulcers, located at the upper and middle esophagus. The surface of the ulcer was clean, and the boundary was distinct. Pathologic findings included degeneration and necrosis in squamons epithelium, accompanied by ulcer, infiltration of neutrophils and lymphocytes, hyperplasia of capillaries and basal cells and formation of granulation tissues, Immunocyto-chemical examination showed HSV-1 was positive in biopses, while CMV, EBV, HHV8 were negetive. Con-dusion Viral esophagtitis exhibited distinctive endosoopic and pathological features, and etiology can be confirmed by immunohistochemical examinations.

The relationship between sub-health and " pro-disease" in Chinese medicine was clarified through analyzing the background of sub-health coming forth and its connotation, as well as the multiple meaning of "pro-disease" in Chinese medicine. The authors offered, thereupon, their clews and methods for treatment of "pro-disease" and intervention on sub-health.
Health Status ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods

In China, the malignant tumor with the highest incidence and motality is lung cancer (LC). As screening and early detection and treatment are effective in reducing LC mortality, formulating a guideline in line with China′s national conditions for the screening and early detection and treatment of LC will greatly promote the homogeneity and accuracy of LC screening, and result in an improvement of the effectiveness of LC screening. Commissioned and directed by the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau of the National Health Commission of the People′s Republic of China, the guidline was initiated by the National Cancer Center of China and formulated with joint effort by experts from different disciplines. Following the principles and methods in WHO Handbook for Guideline Development, the guidline integrates the latest development in LC screening and early diagnosis and treatment worldwide while fully considering China′s national conditions and practical experience in LC screening. It provides detailed evidence-based recommendations for different aspects of LC screening, such as the targeted population, the technologies and the procedures, to regulate the practices of LC screening and early diagnosis and treatment and enhance the effectiveness of the prevention and control of LC in China.

BACKGROUNDCervicogenic headache (CEH) is caused by a structural abnormality in the cervical spine. Available treatments for CEH include medical therapy, local botulinum toxin injection, cervical epidural corticosteroid injection, and surgery. The objective of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of a continuous epidural block of the cervical vertebra.

METHODSMedical records were retrospectively analyzed for 37 patients diagnosed with CEH treated by a continuous epidural block of the cervical vertebra with lidocaine, dexamethasone, and saline (5 ml/min) for 3 - 4 weeks and triamcinolone acetonide 5 mg once weekly for 3 - 4 weeks. Pain was measured via the visual analogue scale (VAS) in combination with quality of life assessment. Outcome measures were patient-reported days with mild or moderate pain, occurrence of severe pain, and the daily oral dosages of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use (NSAID).

RESULTSIn the 3 months immediately preceding placement of the epidural catheter, the mean number of days with mild or moderate pain was 22.0 +/- 4.3. The mean occurrence of severe pain was (3.20 +/- 0.75) times and the mean oral dosage of NSAID was (1267 +/- 325) mg. During the first 6 months after epidural administration of lidocaine and corticosteroids, the mean number of days with mild or moderate pain, the mean occurrence of severe pain, and the mean daily oral dosages of NSAIDs were significantly decreased compared to 3-month period immediately preceding treatment (P < 0.01). By 12 months post-treatment, no significant difference in these three outcome measures was noted.

CONCLUSIONSContinuous epidural block of the cervical vertebra for patients with CEH is effective for at least six months. Further research is needed to elucidate mechanisms of action and to prolong this effect.

Adult ; Aged ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; methods ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Dexamethasone ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Post-Traumatic Headache ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; therapeutic use