Human serum albumin (HSA) is a small molecule, non-glycosylated, negatively charged serum protein, and due to its flexible structure it possesses multiple functions, such as it acts as a carrier in the plasma by binding and transporting various substances, helps preserve the integrity of vascular endothelium, and it also possesses functions of anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, protection of organ function, and maintenance of colloid osmotic pressure. HSA has been used as a therapeutic agent for critical ill patients for a long time. Comprehensive and meta analysis based on previous studies revealed that HSA has a certain effect in lowering incidence of complications in the treatment of critical disease. For some diseases, like sepsis, hepatocirrhosis complicated with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, etc., the use of HSA can significantly improve the prognosis of the patient, however, its positive role in reducing overall mortality rate is still undetermined.

Objective To evaluate the possibility and safety of balloon kyphoplasty for the aged osteoporotic thoracolumbar burst fractures. Methods From October 2007 to December 2012, 78 patients with aged osteoporotic thoracolumbar burst fractures were treated by balloon kyphoplasty. The inflatable balloon was inserted through pedicle of vertebal arch to make fracture reduction, then the centrum was stuffed with bone cement. The whole procedure was pinpointed and detected by C-arm x-ray machine. Results All operations were completed successfully. The lumbar and back pain of the patients relieved obviously. The quality of patients' life was significantly improved. Imaging examinations revealed that the vertebrae altitude was recovered and the kyphosis was corrected obviously. Conclusion Balloon kyphoplasty is effective to treat the aged osteoporotic thoracolumbar burst fractures. But the operation had certain risk, we must do a good job in preoperative preparation, strictly handle surgical indication and accurately operate.

Objective To determine the relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and the prevalence of albuminuria in type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods A total of 826 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients without thyroid disease were enrolled.Participants were evaluated for glycemic control,thyroid function,and albuminuria in a cross-sectional analysis.Results Of 826 type 2 diabetes mellitus,780 subjects were euthyroid(94.44％,780/826) and 46 had SCH (5.56％,46/826).The patients with SCH had a higher proportion in women and higher body mass index compared with the patients with euthyroid [69.6％(32/46) vs.49.7％(388/780),(26.7 ± 4.0) kg/m2 vs.(25.1 ± 3.8) kg/m2],and there was significant difference(P ＜ 0.01).No significant difference in glycated hemoglobin and the prevalence of albuminuria was found between the patients with SCH and the patients with euthyroid (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion SCH is not a risk factor for albuminuria in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

To developing a simple, rapid and sensitive immunoaffinity method for extracting DNA before amplification by the polymerase chain reaction(PCR). Using monoclonal anti-DNA bound to colloidal-gold beads(which called immunocolloidal-gold ) and extracting DNA from the specimen before amplification by PCR. The immunoaffinity method we use is extremely efficient in extracting DNA at low concentration, also, the beads carrying the DNA/anti-DNA complexes can be added directly to a PCR mixture without elution, and the presence of PCR inhibitors in specimens has no effect on amplification. When applied to serial dilution bacteria suspension, the detection of limit can be 100 CFU/mL, and the sensitivity of detecting artificial soil sample and milk sample were 101 and 100 CFU/mL. The immunoaffinity method described here can sever as a sensitive and practicable method for extracting DNA , particularly where samples have low concentrations of DNA or where the material is in poor condition.

Human serum albumin (HSA) is a small molecule, non-glycosylated, negatively charged serum protein, and due to its flexible structure it possesses multiple functions, such as it acts as a carrier in the plasma by binding and transporting various substances, helps preserve the integrity of vascular endothelium, and it also possesses functions of anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, protection of organ function, and maintenance of colloid osmotic pressure. HSA has been used as a therapeutic agent for critical ill patients for a long time. Comprehensive and meta analysis based on previous studies revealed that HSA has a certain effect in lowering incidence of complications in the treatment of critical disease. For some diseases, like sepsis, hepatocirrhosis complicated with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, etc., the use of HSA can significantly improve the prognosis of the patient, however, its positive role in reducing overall mortality rate is still undetermined.

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between the inflammatory factors in the serum and the induced sputum and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function in advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients of different syndromes.

METHODSTotally 71 patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma were assigned to three groups according to syndrome differentiation, i.e., Shen-yang deficiency (SYD) group (28 cases), Fei-qi deficiency (FQD) group (23 cases), and yin deficiency fire excess (YDFE) group (20 cases). Another 41 healthy subjects were enrolled as the normal control group. Sputum was induced and blood samples were collected for measurement of cytokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interferon gamma (INF-gamma). The cytokine assay was performed using Bio-Plex Pro multi assay technology. 24-h collection of urine was performed and salivary samples of the diurnal rhythm profiles [including urinary free cortisol (UFC), urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids (17-OH), urinary 17-ketosteroid (17-KS), and cortisol in the serum and saliva] were obtained for assessment of the HPA axis activity.

RESULTSA higher level of serum IL-6 and a lower level of 24-h UFC and 17-OH were found in the SYD group (P < 0.05). The urinary 17-KS was obviously lower in the SYD group than in the normal control group and the YDEE group (P < 0.05). Compared with the FQD group and the normal control group, a higher serum level of TNF-alpha and a lower level of IFN-gamma were found in the SYD group and the YDFE group (P < 0.05). The TNF-alpha and TGF-beta levels in the induced sputum obviously increased in the SYD group (P < 0.05). The IFN-gamma level in the induced sputum obviously decreased in the YDFE group (P < 0.05). The serum and salivary cortisol obviously decreased from 8: 00 am to 8:00 am the next morning in the SYD group (P < 0.05). The serum cortisol level was negatively correlated with serum TNF-alpha (r = -0.26, P = 0.03) and serum IL-6 (r = -0.25, P = 0.03). The salivary cortisol level was negatively correlated with IL-6 in the induced sputum (r = -0.29, P = 0.02). The serum IFN-gamma was positively correlated with urinary 17-OH (r = 0.21, P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONSThe inflammatory factors of advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients of SYD syndrome were up-regulated, with the most obvious decreased or disarranged HPA axis functions. The levels of IL-6, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma were closely correlated with the HPA axis functions. The transformation from qi deficiency, yin deficiency to Shen-yang deficiency existed in lung adenocarcinoma patients. The levels of IL-6, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma in the serum and the induced sputum, as well as the HPA axis functions are important indices for microscopic syndrome typing of lung adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; blood ; physiopathology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Cytokines ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Inflammation ; Lung Neoplasms ; blood ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Sputum ; chemistry ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo introduce clinical and mechanism studies about treatment of depression by acupuncture and moxibustion in recent years.

METHODSReview was made from clinical controls, mechanism studies and animal experiments.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture and moxibustion have definite therapeutic effect on depression, with less adverse effects, but some problems in clinical and mechanism studies remain to be resolved.

Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Depression ; therapy ; Depressive Disorder ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To observe the prevalence of hyperuricemia(HUA)among obese children,and to ex-plore the association between uric acid(UA)levels and cardiometabolic risk factors,acanthosis nigricans and non - al-cohol fatty liver disease(NAFLD). Methods By using representative sampling method,1 753 obese children aged 6 -17 years old from 18 schools in 3 districts of Beijing(Xicheng,Haidian,Miyun)were selected to participate in the clini-cal examinations,including anthropometric measurements(height,weight)and blood pressure. Serum biochemical pa-rameters were assessed,including fasting plasma glucose(FPG),total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),high - densi-ty lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL - C),low - density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL - C)and UA. Acanthosis nigricans and B - model ultrasonography of the liver were conducted. Results The prevalence of hypertension,impaired fasting glu-cose,dyslipidemia,acanthosis nigricans,and NAFLD among these 1 753 obese children was 33. 6%(589 cases), 66. 5%(1 156 cases),54. 3%(943 cases),23. 3%(408 cases),and 17. 0%(298 cases),respectively. The preva-lence of HUA was 40. 70%(714 / 1 753 cases),with 50. 17%(581 / 1 158 cases)in boys and 22. 34%(133 / 595 ca-ses)in girls. There was a significant increase in body mass index,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure, FPG,TG and LDL - C with the increase of UA,but there was a decrease in HLD - C with the increase of UA(all P ﹤0. 05). In boys,the adjusted odds ratios( OR)and 95% CI of the highest quartile of UA for hypertension,impaired fasting glucose,dyslipidemia,acanthosis nigricans,and NAFLD were 1. 16(0. 77 - 1. 74),1. 34(0. 90 - 1. 99),1. 29 (0. 89 - 1. 87),1. 89(1. 17 - 3. 04),and 1. 71(1. 03 - 2. 84),respectively;in girls,the adjusted OR and 95% CI of the highest quartile of UA for hypertension,impaired fas-ting glucose,dyslipidemia,acanthosis nigricans,and NAFLD was 0. 70(0. 40 - 1. 24),0. 60(0. 40 - 1. 00),1. 69(1. 04 - 2. 70),1. 67(0. 80 - 3. 49),and 1. 33(0. 48 - 3. 66),re-spectively. Conclusions The prevalence of HUA is relatively high in obese children and there is a strong association between UA and some car-diovascular metabolic disorders,acanthosis nigricans and NAFLD.

Objective:To evaluate the validity and reliability of the Problem Area in Diabetes Scale (PAID) for assessing diabetes-related distress in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods:Totally 203 outpatients with type 2 diabetes from a tertiary hospital in Beijing were selected. They were assessed with PAID,Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17),Patient Health Questionaire-9(PHQ-9),World Health Organization Five item Well-Being Index (WHO-5 ),Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI)and HbA1 C. Item analysis and exploratory factoranalysis were conducted to test constructive validity. Concurrent validity was evaluated by the correlation coeffi-cients with the other instruments mentioned above. Totally 3 1 subjects were retested 4 weeks later to obtain the test-retest reliability. Results:Exploratory factor analysis produced 4 factors,including emotional,therapeutic,diet and perceived society support problems specific to diabetics. The total variance contribution ratio was 64. 33%. Except i-tem 7 and 20,no item was across two factors. The correlation coefficients of each item with relevant subscale score ranged from 0. 67 to 0. 86. The PAID scores were positively correlated with the scores of HAMD-17,PHQ-9 and HbA1C (r=0. 48,0. 43,0. 21,P<0. 001 or 0. 01),and negatively correlated with WHO-5 scores (r=-0. 46,P<0. 001). The Cronbach's αcoefficients were 0. 94 for the total scale and 0. 81 -0. 88 for the 4 subscales. The test-retest reliability coefficient was 0. 65 for the total scale and 0. 53-0. 73 for the 4 subscales. Conclusion:The validi-ty and reliability of the Problem Area in Diabetes Scale are acceptable in Chinese mainland,and can be available to assess the stress related to diabetics.

In the recent years, the shortage of allo-skin sources has resulted in great challenges for salvage of patients with large area severe burns. Although being similar to human skin in construction and function, the clinical application of xenogenic porcine skin in burn wound management is limited due to factors including immuno-rejection, porcine endogenous retroviruses infection, etc. With the development of gene editing technology, especially the emerge of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein-9 system, multiple target genes could be possibly edited at the same time, which will bring broad prospect for the application of xenogenic porcine skin in the treatment of burn wounds. The paper mainly discusses the development, the existed barrier, the strategies of gene modification/editing, and the applications and research of xenogenic porcine skin xenografts in the clinical treatment of burn wound.
Animals ; Burns/surgery* ; CRISPR-Associated Proteins ; Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats ; Gene Editing ; Humans ; Skin Transplantation/methods* ; Swine