AIM: To explore the effects of mindfulness- based stress reduction ( MBSR ) on anxiety, compliance and visual function in primary open angle glaucoma( POAG) patients. ·METHODS:Totally 64 patients, who were treated with topical medication and were diagnosed with POAG in the department of ophthalmology at Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, were randomly divided into the intervention group ( n=32 ) and the control group ( n=32 ) . Both groups received conventional mental health education while the intervention group was complemented with MBSR intervention. The patient's anxiety status, compliance rates and MD before and after the intervention were evaluated. ·RESULTS:After the MBSR intervention, the scores of HAMA of the intervention group were significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0. 01). The compliance of patients in intervention group was higher than that of the control group (P<0. 01). ·CONCLUSION:The MBSR intervention can effectively relieve the anxiety of patients and improve the compliance in primary open angle glaucoma patients. It can be promoted and put into clinical application.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of Qingkailing (QKL) in cardiac muscle's injury induced by endotoxin and discuss the mechanism from the inflammatory factors expression and free radical metabolism. Methods A total of 48 male ICR mice were divided into normal group, model group, low dose group and high dose group, 12 mice in each group. The QKL(9 ml/kg) was administered via gavage daily for 4 days in low dose group, the QKL (18 ml/kg) was administered via gavage daily for 4 days in high dose group, the equivalent volume of saline was administered via gavage daily for 4 days in normal group and model group. At the fifth day all groups except normal group, received intraperitoneal injection of LPS 0.2 ml (40 mg/kg), and the normal group received equivalent volume of saline. Intragastric administrated again 0.5h, 8h and 20 h after the model establishment. We took blood from hearts 1 hour after the last administration. The QR-PCR was used to detect the expression of inflammatory factors. The Elisa was used to detect IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, MDA, SOD and GSH-Px. Results Compared to the model group, the content of TNF-α (68.75 ± 7.73 pg/ml, 62.03 ± 16.09 pg/ml vs. 116.06 ± 21.06 pg/ml), IL-1β (110.84 ± 40.61 pg/ml, 105.51 ± 38.21 pg/ml vs. 167.53 ± 54.82 pg/ml) and IL-6 (68.78 ± 20.57 pg/ml, 59.71 ± 13.59 pg/ml vs. 108.80 ± 28.21 pg/ml) in low dose group and high dose group were significantly decreased (P<0.01). The expression of TNFα mRNA (1.42 ± 0.15, 1.30 ± 0.46 vs. 3.00 ± 0.82),IL-1β mRNA (1.20 ± 0.57, 1.01 ± 0.40 vs. 2.32 ± 1.39) and IL-6 mRNA (1.53 ± 1.10, 1.16 ± 1.09 vs. 4.12 ± 2.23) in low dose group and high dose group were significantly decreased (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The content of MDA (10.64 ± 2.91 nmol/mg, 11.36 ± 3.02 nmol/mg vs. 15.21 ± 2.31 nmol/mg) in low dose group and high dose group were significantly decreased (P<0.01). The content of SOD (282.32 ± 35.90 U/mg, 325.07 ± 34.76 U/mg vs. 249.01 ± 45.22 U/mg) and GSH-Px (48.26 ± 17.13 U/g, 49.66 ± 22.11 U/g vs. 26.47 ± 20.37 U/g) in low dose group and high dose group were significantly increased (P<0.01). Conclusions The QKL plays a protective role in myocardial injury induced by endotoxemia. Its mechanism may be associated with down-regulation of expression of inflammatory factors, reducing free radicals and improvement of antioxidation.

BACKGROUND: Fracture of the pubic branch is a common type of anterior pelvic ring injury. Fixation of the pubic branch fracture can reduce the stress level of the posterior pelvic ring fixation system and reduce the separation of the pubic symphysis, which is beneficial to the stability of the pelvic ring. Both percutaneous screw fixation and traditional open reduction and internal fixation can be used to fix pubic branch fractures, but which method is better has not been confirmed. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of percutaneous screw fixation with conventional open reduction and plate fixation for pubic branch fracture. METHODS: Sixty-five patients of pubic branch fracture undergoing the surgical treatment at the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University between January 2014 and December 2018 were included. The patients were randomly divided into percutaneous screw fixation group (n=33) and open reduction and plate fixation group (n=32). The patients signed the informed consents and the study was approved by the ethics committee of the hospital. The number of cases, sex, age, fracture classification, and American Society of Anesthesiologists score had no significant difference between two groups. The operation time, total blood loss, postoperative transfusion cases, incision length, postoperative discharge time and complications in both groups were recorded. Postoperative Matta score, Visual Analogue Scale score before and after surgery, and Majeed score during follow-up were recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Thirty patients in both groups were followed up, which was 8-59 months in the percutaneous screw fixation group, and 8-57 months in the open reduction and plate fixation group. (2) The percutaneous screw fixation group had smaller incision, lower incision infection rate, less bleeding, and shorter postoperative hospitalization time (P < 0.05). (3) Postoperative Visual Analogue Scale scores in both groups were decreased compared with the baseline levels (P < 0.05). The scores at postoperative 3 days in the percutaneous screw fixation group were significantly lower than those in the open reduction and plate fixation group (P < 0.05). The scores at postoperative 6 months were insignificant difference between two groups (P > 0.05). (4) The excellent and good rate of Matta score in the percutaneous screw fixation group was less than that in the open reduction and plate fixation group, and the difference was insignificant (P > 0.05). (5) There was no significant difference in the Majeed score at postoperative 6 months between two groups (P > 0.05). (6) Our results indicate that percutaneous screw fixation can achieve the same good effect as traditional plate fixation, and has the advantages of less trauma and faster postoperative recovery compared with traditional plate fixation.

How to identify active constituents of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) and study their interactions are key problems in the development of TCMs. The inhibitory effect of six alkaloids from Rhizoma Coptidis (RC) on Shigella dysenteriae (S. dysenteria) growth had been investigated by microcalorimetry in this study. Main active constituents of RC were confirmed by comparing their contributions to the bacteriostatic effect, and the interactions among active constituents were further researched. According to the result, in 0.8 mg-mL-1 extract of RC, the contributions of six active alkaloids including berberine, coptisine, epiberberine, palmatine and the combination of jatrorrhizine and columbamine were 52.83%, 36.31%, 2.49%, 4.27% and 3.21%, respectively. Therefore, berberine and coptisine were the main active constituents of RC that inhibited the growth of S. dysenteria. The study of interactions among the six alkaloids indicated that, 1 there were some contstituents antagonizing the inhibitory effect of RC, 2 there was a synergy effect between berberine and coptisine, 3 there were additive effects between other four alkaloids and the main active constituents. These results may provide some useful references for the establishment of the quality standard for RC and the development of multi-component TCMs.
Alkaloids ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Berberine ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Berberine Alkaloids ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Drug Interactions ; Drug Synergism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Shigella dysenteriae ; drug effects ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo investigate the regulation of Cha Gan Beng Ga on the activity of biomarker PGC-1α in vivo and in vitro, and lay the foundation for studying the efficacy result of Cha Gan Beng Ga on xenograft tumor model and extracting active constituents.

METHOD(1) The coarse powder of Cha Gan Beng Ga was extracted with 70% ethanol solution through heating and refluxing, and finally was used to freeze dry powder. (2) 50 mg x kg(-1) of freeze-dried power was orally administrated to KM and C57BL/6J mice once daily, lasting for 5 consecutive days; different concentrations of extracted materials was given to non-small cell lung cells A549. (3) The expression level of PGC-1α mRNA was quantitatively determined in lung tissue of mice and non-small cell lung cells A549.

RESULTThe expression levels of PGC-1α in lung tissue of different mice strains had an increasing tendency. Furthermore, the expression levels of PGC-1α in non-small cell lung cells A549 also had an increasing tendency, showing dose and time-dependent relationships.

CONCLUSIONMongolian Medicine Cha Gan Beng Ga could induce the over-expression of PGC-1α mRNA in lung tissue of mice and in non-small cell lung cells A549. The present results will lay foundation for studying the efficacy result of antitumor and active constitutes in future.

Aconitum ; chemistry ; Animals ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Medicine, Mongolian Traditional ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Time Factors ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

A vernier optometer, based on the Scheiner principle, that makes use of polarized light, is designed and developed. It is specialized in measurement of tonic accommodation, accommodation and accommodation response. The vernier optometer has been proved by chinical testing results, to be a reliable and effective instrument with fine stabilily, good repeatability and sensitivity for short sight study relating to oculogyral parameters.
Accommodation, Ocular ; Adult ; Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological ; instrumentation ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Myopia ; diagnosis ; Optometry ; instrumentation ; Refraction, Ocular ; Reproducibility of Results ; Visual Acuity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of the deleted azoospermia (DAZ) gene copy related to gr/gr and b2/b3 deletions in the AZFc region with male spermatogenic impairment.

METHODSThis study included 121 infertile men with different de- grees of spermatogenic impairment and 95 healthy donors from the sperm bank. Using PCR, PCR-RFLP, and Y chromosome specific sequence tagged sites (STS) , we analyzed the association of DAZ gene copy deletions related to gr/gr and b2/b3 deletions in the AZFc region with spermatogenic impairment.

RESULTSThere were 15 cases of gr/gr deletion (12. 40% ) and 6 cases of b2/b3 deletion (4.96%) in the infertility group as compared with 13 cases of gr/gr deletion (13.68%) and 1 case of b2/b3 deletion (1.05%) in the control. Analysis of the DAZ-specific single nucleotide variant (SNV) loci revealed 11 gr/gr-DAZI/DAZ2 deletions (9.09%), 4 gr/gr-DAZ3/DAZ4 deletions (3.31%), and 6 b2/b3-DAZ1/DAZ2 deletions (4.96%) in the infertile men in comparison with 3 gr/ gr-DAZ1/DAZ2 deletions (3.16%), 10 gr/gr-DAZ3/DAZ4 deletions (10.53%), and 1 b2/b3- DAZ3/DAZ4 deletion (1.05%) in the control.

CONCLUSIONPartial deletions of gr/gr and b2/b3 exist in both healthy men and male patients with different degrees of spermatogenic impairment and cannot be considered as a risk factor for spermatogenesis impairment. However, deletions of different DAZ duplicons in gr/gr and b2/b3 deletions have different effects on spermatogenesis. DAZ1/DAZ2 instead of DAZ3/DAZ4 deletions might be associated with spermatogenesis impairment.

Deleted in Azoospermia 1 Protein ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Dosage ; Humans ; Male ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Spermatogenesis ; genetics

Aim: Clone and characterize of the 5′- flanking region of the nitrate reductase (NR) gene derived from Dunaliella salina(D. salina). Methods : The genomic DNA from D. salina was respectively digested with BamHI, EcoRI, HindIII, Pst I, Sal I and Xba I. A genomic walking cassette was ligated to the ends of the digested DNA fragments, and then genomic walking libraries comprising BL, EL, HL, PL, SL and XL were constsucted. The 5′- flanking region of the NR gene from genomic walking libraries of D. salina was amplified by LA-PCR. The DNA sequences were analyzed with the software - Promoter Predictions. Isolated 5′-flanking regions fused to the GUS gene were tested for transient expression in the alga. Results: A single specific PCR product of about 1200bp in length from the HL library was generated. Also, several conserved motifs, such as CAAT-box, GAGA-box were found, which are related to regulation of transcription, and the putative binding sites of transcriptional factors such as EBP, EFII, NF-E1 and LV. BLAST showed that the DNA sequences shared high homology with 5′-upstream region of the NR gene from Dunaliella viridis. The isolated 5′-flanking regions were able to strongly drive GUS reporter gene expression, suggesting that it contains the promoter elements necessary for the transcription of the NR gene. The expression pattern of the GUS gene and the NR gene were similar, both ware induced by nitrate and repressed by ammonium. Conclusion: The cloned 5′- flanking sequences of NR gene derived from D. salina might be a specific promoter with the ability to“switch on or off” an expression of the heterologous gene in transgenic D. salina.

OBJECTIVE:To promote the healthy development of TCM decoction piece. METHODS:Based on analyzing the literature,national policy and data,the advantages and urgent problems of bringing TCM decoction piece into the National Essen-tial Medicine List were summarized,and the suggestions for its health development were provided. RESULTS:Bringing TCM de-coction piece into the National Essential Medicine List relieved the economic burden of patients and provided opportunity for the de-velopment of TCM decoction piece industry. However,it existed problems,such as production,circulation,storage and monitor-ing;mutual conflict in the relevant supporting policies;inconsistent medicare reimbursement;and urgent improvement of quality standard. CONCLUSIONS:The relevant departments should establish and improve the quality standard system of TCM decoction piece,and clear the varieties of TCM decoction piece in the National Essential Medicine List,perfecting supporting policies such as medicare reimbursement and attaching importance to the training of professional talents can ensure scientific and rational services for the public health.

Background Retinal development continues during the early postnatal period in mammals.Correct arrangement of layers and precise location of various cells in the retina are vital for forming normal visual function during critical period plasticity.Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT)provides highquality in vivo retinal imaging and the possibility to measure retinal thickness longitudinally. Objective The present study was to investigate the changes of retinal thickness during critical period plasticity in rats. Methods In vivo consecutive scanning of retinal image was performed in 10 SPF Sprague-Dawley rats at postnatal day 14(P14),P18,P21,P24 and P42 with SD-OCT,and retinal histopathological examination was used to detect retinal morphologic changes at the same postnatal ages in 20 matched rats.The whole retinal thickness,the thickness from inner limiting membrane(ILM)to inner plexiform layer(IPL),the thickness of inner nuclear layer(INL)and the thickness from outer nuclear layer(ONL)to retinal pigment epithelium(RPE)were measured using Cirrus HD-OCT system and HMIAS-2000 Imaging System in retinal sections.The measurement parameters by Cirrus HD-OCT and those by hematoxylin-eosin staining were compared.The use of animals followed the Statement of National Institute of Health (USA). Results In vivo high-resolution images of rat retinas with SD-OCT compared well with histology,which enabled quantitative comparison of the SD-OCT and histological data during critical period plasticity in rats.From P14 to P42,the retinal thickness gradually decreased with the increase of rat ages(F=15.425,P=0.000),and so were the thickness from ILM to IPL,the thickness of INL and the thickness from ONL to RPE(F=3.973,P=0.007;F=17.529,P=0.000;F=7.038,P=0.000).The retinal thickness,thickness of INL.thickness from ONL to RPE measured by Cirrus HD-OCT were significantly correlated with those measured by retinal sections among P14,P18,P21,P24 and P42 rats(r=0.794,P=0.000;r=0.784,P=0.000;r=0.681,P=0.000). Conclusion SD-OCT is a demonstratably valuable technology to study the structure of retinas in rats.The retinal thickness is shown to reduce in thickness throughout the development of the retina during critical period plasticity due to the decrease in thickness of INL and the distance from the ONL to RPE,as illustrated by OCT scanning.