Objective:To establish the median databases of serum markers for Down's syndrome screening during the second trimester of pregnancy women in the north-central area of Jiangxi Province.Methods:Time-resolved fluorometry was used to detect the serum contents of AFP free β-hCG and uE3 in 57 548 pregnant women during 15-20 gestational weeks.Risk evaluation was conducted by LifeCycle 4.0.SAS 9.2 software was used to establish a model of the median fitted equation.The newly constructed median system was used to reassess the risk of Down's syndrome development in pregnant women.Results:The medianand built in medianof north-central region in Jiangxi Province are significantly different (Z=2.201,P=0.028).The relationship between the median of the triple index and the gestational age was analyzed by the weight regression model.The relationship between the MoM value and the weight was used to calculate the reciprocal model.The median of the new system was more efficiency than the built in median.In the median of the new system than the reference,the detection rate improved from 62.75％ to 72.55％,false positive rate reduced by 5.84％ to 4.94％.Conclusion:The newly constructed median system is suitable for Down's syndrome screening in the north-central region of Jiangxi Province.

AIM: To design a simple and effective auxiliary device for detection of the compound action poten-tial (CAP) and the force on the isolated sciatic nerve and gastrocnemius in toads, and to investigate its practicability. METHODS: A simple “L” shape device (L tube), which was composed of a nerve chamber and an organ bath, was made for fixing the isolated sciatic nerve and gastrocnemius.After fixing, the sciatic CAP and the gastrocnemius force were detected by BL-420S data acquisition and analysis system.The specimens were radomly divided into control group, and the lidocaine nerve and muscle groups.The sciatic nerve or gastrocnemius of each lidocaine group was firstly treated with the corresponding concentration of lidocaine, and then washed out with Ringer’s solution, and its reversible anesthetic action on nerve conduction and muscle force was analyzed to verify the practicability of the L tube device.RESULTS: The CAP and the force of the sciatic-gastrocnemius specimens were detected concurrently by fixing the specimens in the L tube, and the liquid in the nerve chamber and organ bath was changed easily.Compared with the control, lidocaine at 0.05 and 0.2 g/L significantly increased the sciatic threshold stimulus voltage and maximal stimulus voltage (P <0.05), prolonged the absolute refractory period (P <0.01), and slowed down the conduction velocity (P <0.01).Lidocaine at 1 g/L complete-
ly blocked the sciatic conduction.The rest tension of the gastrocnemius was increased, and the maximal twitch force was decreased significantly by 1 g/L lidocaine (P <0.01), but the threshold and maximal stimulus voltage did not show statis-tic difference.The parameters of the sicatic nerve and gastrocnemius completely or partially recovered to the control level after washing out.CONCLUSION: As an auxiliary device, L tube makes the detection of CAP and force on the isolated sciatic nerve and gastrocnemius in toads more conveniently.

Background Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is widely applicated to correct the refractive error in ophthalmology nowadays.However,the morphology and structure changes of anterior eye segment caused by the ablation of corneal stroma and suction of negative pressure during surgery should be concerned.Objective This study was to assess the changes of the anterior eye segment parameters and the factors influencing these parameters after LASIK.Methods The clinical data of 59 eyes of 31 patients who received LASIK in Chongqing Medal Eye Institute during May 2012 to July 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.The mean age of the patients was (24.52±8.41) years and the spherical equivalent was (-5.96±3.75) D.The central anterior chamber angle (ACA),anterior chamber volume (ACV),anterior chamber depth (ACD) were measured with Sirius Scheimpflug tomography,and lens thickness (LT) was measured by A-scan before operation and 1,3,6 months after operation.The anterior chamber was divided into anterior and posterior parts by the plane of cornea 4 mm radius area.The ACD of cornea 4 mm radius area sagittal height section (Sag4mm ACD) (the height from posterior corneal vertex to corneal radius of 4 mm plane) and residual ACD (RACD) (the height from corneal radius of 4 mm plane to the anterior lens surface) were computed.The association between ACD and RACD or LT were assessed by Pearson correlation analysis.Results The ACA,ACV,ACD,RACD and LT were significantly different among various time points before and after LASIK (F =8.319,P＜0.05;F =11.596,P＜0.05;F =24.045,P＜0.01;F =16.087,P＜0.05;F =15.333,P＜0.01),and the ACA,ACV,ACD and RACD were significantly decreased 1-6 months after LASIK than those before LASIK (all at P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in the Sag4 mm ACD between pre-and postLASIK (all at P＞0.05).The LT was significantly increased after surgery in comparison with that before surgery (P＜0.01).The positive correlations were found between RACD and ACD before LASIK and in 1,3,6 months after LASIK (r =0.976,0.824,0.724,0.938,all at P＜0.05) and negative correlation between LT and ACD in 3 and 6 months after LASIK (r=-0.344,P＜0.01;r =-0.363,P＜0.01).Conclusions The ACD decrease following LASIK mainly in the sector from the plane of cornea 4 mm radius area to lens surface.The change of ACD might be associated with forward shifting of anterior lens surface caused by enhanced accommodation.

Objective To observe the effect of medication compliance and self-efficacy of schizophrenia patients with diabetes by continuing self-management education. Methods A total of 60 patients with schizophrenia with diabetes diagnostic criteria were divided into experimental group (30 cases) and control group (30 cases) by the admission number, 2 groups received conventional drug treatment, the control group received general preaching health education pattern, were each issued a health education manual, with schizophrenia and diabetes health knowledge division, the test group on the basis of the continuation of the implementation of self-management education, followed up 12 months after discharge, compared 2 groups of patients with medication compliance and recurrence rate, with General Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) assessment level of 2 groups of patients with self-efficacy, fasting blood glucose (FPG) was determined by automatic biochemical analyzer, 2 hours postprandial blood glucose (2 hPBG). Results Six months after discharge, 82.1%(23/28) cases were complete compliance, 14.3%(4/28) cases of partial compliance, 3.6%(1/28) cases of non-compliance, 55.2%(16/29)cases of the control group complete compliance, 27.6%(8/29) cases of partial compliance, 17.2%(5/29) cases of non-compliance, the differences between two groups were statistically significant (χ2=37.41, P<0.05). The 12 month test group of full compliance discharged 75.0%(21/28) cases, 14.3%(4/28) cases of partial compliance, 10.7%(3/28) cases of non-compliance, 31.0%(9/29) cases of the control group complete compliance, 31.0%(9/29) cases of partial compliance, 37.9%(11/29) cases of non-compliance, the test group compliance was higher than the control group (χ2=11.27, P<0.05). The score after 6 months and 12 months respectively for the test group general self-efficacy scored 35.32 ± 2.02, 34.18 ± 1.77, control group scored 24.03 ± 3.04, 22.48 ± 2.01, the differences between two groups were statistically significant (t=16.445, 23.304, P<0.01). After 6 months in test group FPG and 2 hPBG were (5.71 ± 1.05), (9.46 ± 1.37) mmol/L, control group were (7.79 ± 1.05),(12.28 ± 2.07) mmol/L, the differences between two groups were statistically significant (t=7.483, 6.023, P<0.01). 12 months after discharge in test group FPG and 2 hPBG respectively (5.89±1.13), (9.68±1.09) mmol/L, control group (9.14±1.19), (13.17±1.42) mmol/L, test group FPG and 2 hPBG were lower than the control group (t=10.550, 7.431, P<0.01). After 6 months and 12 months, the recurrence rate of experimental group were 7.1% (2/28) and 24.1% (7/29) respectively, and control group were 14.3%(4/28) and 44.8%(13/29), the recurrence rate of experimental group was lower than the control group, there was significant difference between 2 groups (χ2=4.326, 6.225, P< 0.05 or 0.01). Conclusions Self-management education can improve the medication compliance and self-efficacy, improve mental symptoms and sugar metabolism, and reduce the recurrence rate.

Objective To assess the effects of artificial cycle after long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist down regulation scheme and artificial cycle only scheme in preparation of endometrium before frozen embryo transfer in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients on pregnancy outcome.Methods A retrospective analysis was made on the frozen embryo transfer of 132 PCOS patients in the reproductive center of Hunan Maternal and Child Health Hospital from November 2016 to October 2017.The patients were divided into GnRH-a down regulation + artificial cycle group (n =66) and simple artificial cycle group (n =66) according to the different endometrial preparation schemes before frozen embryo transplantation.The transplantation cycle and pregnancy outcome of the two groups were compared.Results (1) There was no statistically significant difference in age,primary infertility rate,infertility years and body mass index (BMI) between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).(2) In the artificial cycle group,4 cases in which the transplantation was cancelled,including 2 cases who were cancelled due to breakthrough bleeding and 2 cases due to endometrial thickness that were less than 7 mm.There was a statistically significant difference in the cancellation rate between the two groups (x2 =4.13,P =0.04).There were no statistically significant difference in embryo frozen storage time,retrieved oocytes in fresh embryo cycle,frozen thawed embryos in the survival rate,graftage embryonic number,high-quality embryonic rate,endometrium thickness in conversion day (P ＞ 0.05).Estrogen level,luteinizing hormone (LH) levels on endometrium conversion day in GnRH-a down regulation plus artificial cycle group and artificial cycle group were respectively as [(1 439.38 ± 357.43) nmoL/ml vs (1 580.54 ± 479.69) nmol/ml and (2.32 ± 0.94) mIU/ml vs (9.46 ±1.52) mIU/ml],with statistically significant difference (x2 =53.64,P ＜ 0.001;x2 =14.32,P ＜ 0.001).(3) The biochemical pregnancy rates of the patients in the GnRH-a down regulation plus artificial cycle group and artificial cycle group were 72.73％ and 53.23％ respectively,with statistically significant difference (x2 =5.23,P =0.036).The clinical pregnancy rate (65.15％) in GnRH-a down regulation plus artificial cycle group was higher than that of the artificial cycle group (46.77％),with statistically significant difference (x2 =4.39,P =0.022).There was no statistically significant difference in early abortion rate and ectopic pregnancy rate between the two groups.Conclusions In frozen embryo transplantation cycle,long-term GnRH-a down regulation after artificial cycle scheme is superior to simple artificial cycle scheme with significantly reduced cycle cancellation rate,low estrogen and LH levels in endometrium transformation day and higher biochemical pregnancy rate and clinical pregnancy rate.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) is effective in monitoring tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with osteosarcoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine osteosarcoma patients (20 men and 9 women; mean age, 17.6 ± 7.8 years) who had undergone magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and DKI before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were included. Tumor volume, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), mean diffusivity (MD), mean kurtosis (MK), and change ratio (ΔX) between pre- and post-treatment were calculated. Based on histologic response, the patients were divided into those with good response (≥ 90% necrosis, n = 12) and those with poor response (< 90% necrosis, n = 17). Several MRI parameters between the groups were compared using Student's t test. The correlation between image indexes and tumor necrosis was determined using Pearson's correlation, and diagnostic performance was compared using receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: In good responders, MDpost, ADCpost, and MKpost values were significantly higher than in poor responders (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.042, respectively). The ΔMD and ΔADC were also significantly higher in good responders than in poor responders (p < 0.001 and p = 0.01, respectively). However, no significant difference was observed in ΔMK (p = 0.092). MDpost and ΔMD showed high correlations with tumor necrosis rate (r = 0.669 and r = 0.622, respectively), and MDpost had higher diagnostic performance than ADCpost (p = 0.037) and MKpost (p = 0.011). Similarly, ΔMD also showed higher diagnostic performance than ΔADC (p = 0.033) and ΔMK (p = 0.037). CONCLUSION: MD is a promising biomarker for monitoring tumor response to preoperative chemotherapy in patients with osteosarcoma.
Bone Neoplasms ; Diffusion ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Necrosis ; Osteosarcoma ; ROC Curve ; Tumor Burden

Piperine is a kind of amide alkaloids presenting in Piper nigrum L.，which has the pharmacological action such as protecting cardiovascular system ，regulating glucose and lipid metabolism ，anti-tumor，improving nervous system diseases ， anti-inflammation and so on. This paper summarized the pharmacological action and mechanisms of piperine in recent years and found that piperine ，as the main active ingredient of P. nigrum ，could protect the cardiovascular system by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress ；improve mitochondrial function through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects ，thereby regulate glucose and lipid metabolism ；play an anti-tumor role by mediating the signaling pathways of Wnt/β-catenin，NF-κB/Nrf-2/KeAP-1/HO-1， PI3K/Akt，TGF-β1/Smad2/ERK1/2；improve neurological diseases by inhibiting autophagy ，relieving inflammation ，improving antioxidant，inhibiting neuronal apoptosis and regulating the expression of related proteins in neurons ；play an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the activity of NF-κB and other signaling pathways and reducing the expression of inflammation-related proteins. However，the mechanism of action of piperine is not perfect ，and most of the studies have been confined to the pharmacological level or a certain signaling pathway and a certain target ，without being able to elucidate the interconnection between the relevant signaling pathway and the specific target from a holistic perspective. In the follow-up ，the specific targets of piperine can be identified and clinical trials can be carried out to provide support for the clinical application of piperine.

OBJECTIVE: : To investigate the effect of polysaccharides (LBPs) on TLR/NF-κB independent pathway and serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) level in diabetic MyD88-knockout mice. METHODS: : Diabetes was induced by feeding high-fat/high-sugar diet and injection of low-dose streptozotocin in MyD88-knockout mice. The diabetic mice were randomly divided into model group, positive control group and LBPs group. The expressions of TRAM, TRIF, TRAF6, RIP1 and TNF-α mRNA and proteins in mouse peritoneal macrophages were detected by real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting after LBPs treatment for 3 month. Serum TNF-α was determined with ELISA kit. RESULTS: : Real time RT-PCR showed that compared with model group, the relative expressions of and mRNA in macrophages of LBPs group were significantly decreased and expression of was significantly increased (all <0.05). Expression of TRAM, TRIF, TRAF6, RIP1 and TNF-α proteins as well as serum TNF-α level had no significant difference between LBPs group and model group (all >0.05). CONCLUSIONS : LBPs may not inhibit serum TNF-α level through TLR/NF-κB independent pathway.
Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 ; genetics ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; metabolism

Objective:To quantify any correlation between the severity of spinal curvature of an adolescent with idiopathic scoliosis and their cardiopulmonary exercise endurance.Methods:The cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) results and the full-length spinal X-rays in a standing position of 64 adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis were reviewed retrospectively. Independent t-tests were used to compare the two datasets obtained from those with left or right thoracic scoliosis. The correlation between the Cobb angle and cardiopulmonary exercise endurance was analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients, multiple factor linear regression and two-stage linear regression.Results:After adjusting for gender, age, height and weight, the multiple linear regression analysis showed that the Cobb angle was significantly negatively correlated with maximum tidal volume (β=-0.013) and significantly positively correlated with the rate of respiration (β=0.421). The relationship between the Cobb angle and cardiopulmonary exercise endurance was non-linear. With a Cobb angle > 34°, a 1° increase reduces cardiopulmonary exercise endurance by a factor of 1.4 on average. At smaller Cobb angles the corresponding increase is about 0.87 times.Conclusions:The Cobb angle is a negative predictor of ventilation during exercise among adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. The more severe a patient′s spinal curvature, the lower the cardiopulmonary exercise endurance is likely to be.

ObjectiveTo study the effect and underlying mechanism of Stemona tuberosa alkaloids on the proliferation and apoptosis of human non-small cell lung cancer NCI-H460 cells. MethodNon-small cell lung cancer NCI-H460 cells were divided into a blank group and S. tuberosa alkaloids groups （50， 100， 150， 200， and 250 mg·L^-1）. The effect of S. tuberosa alkaloids on the proliferation of human NCI-H460 cells was observed by thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide （MTT） assay and colony formation assay. Cell apoptosis was observed by Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry. Real-time fluorescence-based polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect the effect of S. tuberosa alkaloids on the mRNA expression of cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease 3 （Caspase-3）， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， and epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR）. The protein expression levels of Caspase-3， Bax， Bcl-2， protein kinase B （Akt）， phosphorylated （p-）Akt， EGFR， c-Jun N-terminal kinase （JNK）， p-JNK， p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （p38 MAPK）， and p-p38 MAPK were measured by Western blot. ResultCompared with the blank group， the S. tuberosa alkaloids groups showed increased inhibition rate on cell proliferation （P<0.01）， reduced number of cell clones formed and the rate of cell clonal formation （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and increased karyopyknosis， cytoplasmic aggregation， and cell apoptosis rate （P<0.01）. The S. tuberosa alkaloids groups at 100， 150， 200， and 250 mg·L^-1 showed increased Caspase-3 mRNA expression （P<0.05）， decreased EGFR mRNA expression （P<0.05， P<0.01）， up-regulated protein expression of Caspase-3 and p-JNK （P<0.01）， and down-regulated protein expression of EGFR and p-Akt （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Additionally， compared with the blank group， the S. tuberosa alkaloids groups showed increased expression of Bax mRNA （P<0.01）， decreased expression of Bcl-2 mRNA （P<0.01）， up-regulated protein expression of Bax and p-p38 MAPK （P<0.01）， and down-regulated protein expression of Bcl-2 （P<0.01）. ConclusionsS. tuberosa alkaloids can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of human non-small cell lung cancer NCI-H460 cells， and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of EGFR protein expression and phosphorylation of Akt protein， as well as the activation of the JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway.