As one of the major geriatric syndromes,frailty exerts adverse effects on life expectancy and quality of life of the elderly.Because of its importance,a number of methods and tools have been introduced for the assessment of frailty.Malnutrition,as an independent risk factor,interacts with frailty and is involved in its progression.This article reviews recent studies on frailty and malnutrition.

Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Lung ; Naphthyridines/therapeutic use* ; Urea/analogs & derivatives*

Objective To evaluate the comprehensive medical goal appraisal system on hand hygiene compliance rate of health care workers(HCWs).Methods Comprehensive medical goal appraisal system was adopted to inter-vene hand hygiene compliance rate of HCWs in a comprehensive hospital ,hand hygiene compliance rates of HCWs and consumption of instant hand sanitizer per bed-day before (December 2012)and after intervention (January 2013-June 2014)were compared.Results Hand hygiene compliance rate after intervention was higher than before interven-tion (85.17% [18 208/21 379]vs 39.92%[853/2 137]),hand hygiene compliance rate enhanced by 113.35%(χ2 =2 590. 81,P <0.001).Hand hygiene compliance rates of HCWs of different departments,different occupations and different hand hygiene moments were all higher than before intervention (all P <0.001);after intervention ,hand hygiene compliance rate revealed a increased tendency,and has maintained high since October 2013 (>90%),consumption of instant hand sanitizer before and after intervention was 7.24 mL/bed-day(4 200 L/579 841 bed-day)and 10.54 mL/bed-day(9 323.5L/884 489 bed-day)respectively,the consumption after intervention increased by 45.58% compared with that before intervention. Conclusion Comprehensive medical goal appraisal can effectively enhance hand hygiene compliance rate ,and maintains at a high level;the measure can affect hand hygiene behavior of HCWs by hawthorne effect,and is an effective and long-term measure to improve hand hygiene compliance of HCWs.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of a sequence-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) in suppressing survivin expression and cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis of PC-2 cells.

METHODSThe plasmid expression vector of siRNA targeted against survivin was constructed and transfected into PC-2 cells with Lipofectamine 2000. The changes of survivin expression were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemical SP methods. The effect of siRNA in suppressing the proliferation of PC-2 cells was detected by MTT assay, and its role in inducing PC-2 cell apoptosis evaluated by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe sequence-specific siRNA effectively suppressed survivin expression at both mRNA and protein levels with inhibition rate of 81.25% at mRNA level and 74.24% at protein level. Survivin expression suppression significantly inhibited the proliferation of PC-2 cells, and at 24 and 48 h after cell seeding, the proliferation inhibition rate was 28.00% and 33.38% respectively; 24, 48 h after the transfection, apoptosis occurred in 8.46% and 7.53% of the cells, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe plasmid expression vector for the siRNA against survivin constructed in the study can effectively and specifically suppress survivin expression in PC-2 cells, and blocking survivin expression suppresses PC-2 cell proliferation and induces cell apoptosis. siRNA targeted against survivin has a potential value in gene therapy for pancreatic cancer.

Apoptosis ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; genetics ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Neoplasm Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo explore the anti-aging effect of artemisia burning products (ie. smoke of moxibustion) and its proper intervention parameters.

METHODSAccording to factorial experiment design, 70 SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into one model group (group M) and 6 intervention groups: low concentration with 15 min group (group A1), low concentration with 30 min group (group A2), middle concentration with 15 min group (group B1), middle concentration with 30 min group (group B2), high concentration with 15 min group (group C1), high concentration with 30 min group (group C1). There were 10 cases in each group. Ten age-matched SAMR1 mice were used as normal group (group Z). All the mice in the 6 intervention groups were fumed with artemisia burning products of different concentration and time. The content of serum malondialdehyde (MDA), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GSH-Px) were tested.

RESULTSMDA content in group M was significantly higher than that in group Z (both P < 0.05), while SOD and GSH-Px activity were significantly lower in group M than that in group Z (both P < 0.05). Results of MDA, SOD and GSH-Px in 6 intervention groups were either of no statistically significant differences, or better than that in group M. Among 6 intervention groups, results of MDA and GSH-Px were better in group B1, while the result of SOD was better in group B2. Time factor didn't make any difference, while concentration of artemisia burning products is meaningful. As to SOD and GSH-Px, there's a strong interaction between the two factors.

CONCLUSIONWith certain concentration and time period, the intervention of artemisia burning products can exert anti-aging effect by increasing antioxydative capability and reducing metabolites of free radicals. Middle concentration and 30 minutes are recommended when intervened with artemisia burning products.

Aging ; blood ; metabolism ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Artemisia ; chemistry ; Disease Models, Animal ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; blood ; Glutathione Reductase ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Mice ; Moxibustion ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood

A modified protocol for quick and economic treatment of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells has been established, which result in high viability of the cells to allow better performance in patch-clamp studies. The electrophysiological properties of Ca (2+)-activated K(+) (KCa) channel of the cultured cells were investigated with a cell-attached configuration. With this modified treatment method, the cultured cells appear fusiform in shape under microscope, and KCa channel currents could be detected readily, suggesting their eligibility for patch-clamp studies.
Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; physiology ; Humans ; Membrane Potentials ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; methods ; Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated ; physiology ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVETo analyze the inoculation ratio and echinacoside content of Cistanche tubulosa and provide theoretical basis for Tamarix introduction, resource protection and screening of C. tubulosa.

METHOD8 Tamarix species were introduced in the North China Plain and inoculation of C. tubulosa was conducted on all species. Phenylethanoid glycosides fingerprinting and echinacoside content of C. tubulosa were analyzed by using HPLC.

RESULTThe adaptability of 8 Tamarix species were significantly different, phenylethanoid glycosides component of C. tubulosa on T. gansuensis and T. austromongolica were basically identical in contrast to T. chinensis, echinacoside content showed no obvious difference in C. tubulosa plant growing 4 months.

CONCLUSIONT. gansuensis and T. Austromongolica are suitable for the host introduction plant of C. tubulosa resource protection and screening in North China Plain.

China ; Cistanche ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Ecosystem ; Glycosides ; analysis ; Phenols ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Rain ; Soil ; Tamaricaceae ; classification ; growth & development

The purpose of this study is to develop glipizide push-pull osmotic pump (PPOP) tablets by using a formulation design expert system and an artificial neural network (ANN). Firstly, the expert system for the formulation design of osmotic pump of poor water-soluble drug was employed to design the formulation of glipizide PPOP, taking the dissolution test results of Glucotrol XL as the goal. Then glipizide PPOP was prepared according to the designed formulations and the in vitro dissolution was carried out. And in vivo evaluation was carried out between the samples which were similar to Glucotrol XL and the Glucotrol XL in Beagle dogs. The range of the factors of formulation and procedure, which could influence the drug release, was optimized using artificial neural network. Finally, the design space was found. It was found that the target formulation which was similar to Glucotrol XL in dissolution test could be obtained in a short period by using the expert system. The samples which were similar to Glucotrol XL were bio-equivalent to the Glucotrol XL in Beagle dogs. The design space of the key parameter coating weight gain was 9.5%-12.0%. It could be concluded that a well controlled product of glipizide PPOP was developed since the dissolution test standard of our product was more strict than that of Glucotrol XL.
Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Dogs ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Drug Design ; Expert Systems ; Female ; Glipizide ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Neural Networks (Computer) ; Osmosis ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Sodium Chloride ; chemistry ; Solubility ; Tablets

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of balance-impact tuina therapy for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (LIDH).Methods:A total of 118 eligible LIDH patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group by the random number table method,with 59 cases in each group.The observation group was intervened by balance-impact tuina therapy,while the control group was intervened by conventional tuina therapy,both for consecutive two weeks.The scores of visual analog scale (VAS),Oswestry disability index (ODI),quality of life questionnaire-core 30 (QOL-C30) were observed before and after treatment;the relapse rate was estimated at the sixth month and twelfth month following the treatment.The data were statistically analyzed.Results:After intervention,the total effective rate was 96.6％ in the observation group versus 91.5％ in the control group,and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).The VAS and ODI scores declined significantly after treatment in both groups (all P＜0.05),and the observation group was markedly lower than the control group (P＜0.05,P＜0.01).The QOL-C30 score increased significantly after treatment in both groups (both P＜0.05),and the observation group was markedly higher than the control group (P＜0.05).The relapse rates at the post-treatment sixth month and twelfth month in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusion:Compared with the conventional tuina therapy,the balance-impact tuina therapy shows advantage in lessening pain,improving the function and enhancing the quality of life in the treatment of LIDH,and it has a lower relapse rate.Thus,this therapy is worth promoting in clinic.

Objective： This stduy was designed to investigate the molecular mechanism of cell proliferation inhibited by tea polyphenols in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE-LMP1. Method： Light microscope, MTT assay, flow cytometry, Western blot,and reporter gene analysis were applied to investigate the effects of tea polyphenols and(-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on the cell cycle and related molecular mechanisms. Result： After treatment of CNE-LMP1 cells with tea polyphenols(200 μ g/ml), the number of proliferating cells was obviously decreased as determined by light microscopy, and the survival rate of cells decreased from 100％ to 38.1％ as determined by MTT assay. With the increase of tea polyphenols concentrations, the number of cells in S-phase was obviously decreased from 22.20％ to 13.16％ (200 μ g/ml), and the number of cells in Phase G1 were elevated from 68.50％ to 74.08％ . It suggested that tea polyphenols could arrest the cell cycle at G1/S checkpoint. The transcription and the expression of cyclin D1 were obviously declined 4-5 fold. Furthermore, after treatment with tea polyphenols, transactivities of NFκ B and AP-1 was obviously down-regulated in CNE-LMP1 cells for 5-6 and 7-8 fold, respectively. Conclusion： Tea polyphenols could arrest cell cycle and inhibit cells proliferation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and down-regulation of the gene transcription and expression of cyclin D1 might also be involved in these events.