BACKGROUND:Conventional treatments for hypertrophic scars include excision, steroid hormones, anti-metabolite drugs, immunosuppressive agents and radiation therapy. Easy to relapse or serious reaction limits their clinical use. In recent years, application of calcium channel blockers in treatment of hypertrophic scars has made more good progresses, but little adverse reactions are obtained. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects of calcium channel blocker trifluoperazine on hypertrophic scar of rabbit ears. METHODS:A total of 24 rabbits were enrol ed in this study. After 1 week of accommodation, models of rabbit ear scar were established in accordance with the method of Morris and Li et al. Rabbit models were randomly assigned to three group (n=8). At 30 days after model induction, when scar formed, trifluoperazine and triamcinolone acetonide groups received trifluoperazine and triamcinolone acetonide injection. Blank control group was left intact. Changes in hyperplastic scar, hypertrophic index, levels of matrix metal oproteinase-2, tissue inhibitor of metal oproteinase-2, transforming growth factorβ1,α-smooth muscle actin and proliferating cellnuclear antigen were compared and observed in each group. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 10 and 20 days after treatment, in the three groups, skin bulge was visible in rabbit ears and no rabbit hair grew. Rabbit ears had obvious softening in the trifluoperazine group compared with the triamcinolone acetonide group, showing dark red. In the blank control group, rabbit ear scar was evident and showed red color. At 20 days after treatment, scar thickness and scar index were lower in the trifluoperazine and triamcinolone acetonide groups than in the blank control group. Matrix metal oproteinase 2 expression was significantly higher, but tissue inhibitor of metal oproteinase-2 and transforming growth factorβ1 levels were lower in the trifluoperazine and triamcinolone acetonide groups than in the blank control group. Results indicated that trifluoperazine obtained good proliferative effects on rabbit ear scar, and could decrease scar thickness.

Vildagliptin is a potent and specific inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase 4,which has been implicated to enhance and prolong the physiological actions of incretion hormones including glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide.Vildagliptin is an orally administered drug and has been licensed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.Vildagliptin monotherapy or in combination with other drugs can effectively lower glycosylated haemoglobin levels to a great extent.In addition,vildagliptin acts in a glucose-dependent manner,explaining its low risk of hypoglycemia.This drug has been proved well tolerated with few gastrointestinal side effects or oedema.Therefore vildagliptin is a promising new option for type 2 diabetic patients,and these patients would achieve better glycemic control and fewer complications in the long run.

Objective To evaluate the expressive varieties of Nogo-A mRNA in injured optic nerves of rats. Methods Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method was used to hemi-quantitatively analyze the levels of Nogo-A mRNA in the optic nerves 3, 7, 9, 15, 21, and 25 days respectively after injury. Results The level of the expression of Nogo-A mRNA was low in the normal optic nerves, while it was significantly high in the optic nerves 3 days after injury, and kept the high level still after 25 days. Conclusion The expression of Nogo-A mRNA in injured optic nerves is increased.

Fifteen min after adding nimodipine 50 ?mol/L, the contractility of the left atrial muscle decreased from 100 % of control to 55.5 +4.2 o/o and its inhibitory effect was equal to the effect of verapamil (25 ?mol/L ) . Nim at the same concentration inhibited strongly the positive staircase phenomenon but could not reverse it into the negative staircase phenomenon as verapamil 25 ?mol/L did. The same concentration of Nim suppressed significantly the post rest contraction. On the contrary, the post rest contraction was not affected by verapamil at 25 ?mol/L. In addition, Nim 50 ?mol/L reversed or prevented significantly the ouabain-induced arrhythmias in isolated left atria. These results suggest that the negative ino-trbpism of Nim may be related not only to the inhibition of Ca2 + influx to the cells and also to the decrease of the intercellular Ca2+ release and that Nim might present the possibility in treating arrhythmias or other heart disease

Next generation sequencing (NGS),also known as massively parallel sequencing (MPS),with significant advantages such as high throughput,rapidness,integration and low cost,has been widely used in research and clinical diagnosis fields and promises bright future for forensic applications.Compared with traditional DNA sequencing methods,NGS technologies allow the simultaneous detection of various forensic genetic markers.The classical CE-based STR genotyping method only can differentiate alleles with length polymorphism.However,there are occasions like DNA base substitution and repeat sequence variations,which give different alleles with the same size of amplicons.These alleles are heritable from parents to off-springs,and could be of great importance for solving criminal cases.NGS-based STR genotyping can be compatible with current STR data output mode,and allows for the full resolution of STR loci by providing additional sequencing polymorphism information.In this article,the authors focused on the forensic STR genetic markers and next generation sequencing,and reviewed recent progresses on NGS-based STR genotyping.Perspectives of NGS-based full resolution STR genotyping were presented and possible challenges were discussed in the hope of providing a reference for related studies and applications.

The exploration of drug toxicity and mechanisms is a vital component in ensuring the safe use of drugs in clinical practice, as this topic has attracted widespread concern. The intestinal flora holds great significance for drug metabolism, efficacy and mechanism, and is an instrumental metabolic organ that facilitates material information transfer and biotransformation. However, an increasing number of studies have shown that intestinal bacteria are closely related to the toxicity of specific drugs. On the one hand, drugs are transformed into toxic metabolites under the influence of intestinal bacteria, thus inducing direct drug toxicity. On the other hand, the composition and function of the intestinal flora are altered under drug influence, resulting in disruption of endogenous metabolic pathways. Consequently, this disruption compromises the intestinal barrier and affects other organs, leading to indirect drug toxicity. This review meticulously compiles recent examples of drug toxicity attributed to intestinal bacteria, explores in depth the contention that metabolic enzymes of gut microbiota may be of great influence on oral drug toxicity, and outlines prospective avenues for future research on gut microbiota and drug toxicity and mechanisms. This not only provides novel perspectives for the judicious clinical utilization of drugs but also offers insights for the safety assessment of innovative pharmaceuticals.

OBJECTIVETo explore the curative effect and adverse reactions of a convenient expiratory positive airway pressure device(EPAPD) in treatment of obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS). METHODS74 subjects with OSAHS were treated by EPAPD. Polysomnography(PSG) and Epworth sleepiness scores(ESS) were performed and evaluated before, within 1 week and after 3 months using the EPAPD. The index of PSG and ESS were compared at different time. The adverse reactions were also observed at the same time.RESULTS Compared to baseline, the AHI, LSaO2, ESS were significantly improved both within 1 week and after 3 months(AHI:F=73.62,P=0.00; LSaO2:F=12.65,P=0.00; ESS:F=61.49,P=0.00). The improvement of AHI between different OSAHS groups(divided by the severity of AHI in baseline) was significantly different(within 1 week:F=15.39,P=0.00; after 3 months:F=12.60,P=0.00). There was also significant difference between different hypoxia groups which were divided by the severity of LSaO2 in baseline(within 1 week:F=3.80,P=0.03; after 3 months:F=3.27,P=0.04). Meanwhile, the ESS was significantly improved in different sleepiness groups(divided by the ESS score in baseline) within 1 week(F=6.17,P=0.00). The device-related adverse events were reported by 44.59%(33/74). There were not serious adverse reaction happened. The major adverse reactions were throat and nose dry, nasal obstruction, and nose discomfort.CONCLUSION The EPAPD is an effective, convenient device in treating OSAHS. Meanwhile, the device related adverse reactions are slight. It may be more efficient for serious OSAHS patients than mild ones.

The change in serum level of 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG),an oxidative stress biomarker,in patients with active Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) during corticosteroid treatment was observed.The serum level of 8-OHdG was significantly increased in patients with active GO as compared with that of normal controls and patients with Graves' disease (P ＜ 0.05).After systemic corticosteroid treatment,patients with GO showed significantly lowered 8-OHdG level as compared with that before treatment and patients with Graves' disease.These changes in serum 8-OHdG level were accompanied by decreases in clinical activity score (P ＜ 0.05) during corticosteroid treatment.Oxidative stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of GO.Serum 8-OHdG level may be used as an objective and quantitative parameter in patients with GO during immunosuppressive treatment.

To investigate the role played by 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in patients with Graves'ophthalmopathy(GO),and the association between 8-OHdG and the disease activity of GO.Serum levels of 8-OHdG were tested in 48 cases with GO and 30 cases with Graves' disease(GD) without ophthalmopathy.30 healthy subjects participated in this study as controls.8-OHdG was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Compared with the controls,the mean level of 8-OHdG in GO patients and GD patients was increased significantly [(2.98±1.33),(2.07±1.30) vs(0.72±0.93)ng/ml,P＜0.05].Mean 8-OHdG level in GO patients was markedly higher when compared to GD patients(P＜0.05).Pearson regression analysis showed that elevated levels of 8-OHdG were significantly correlated with the Clinical Activity Score of GO (r =0.54,P＜0.01).The serum level of 8-OHdG in GO patients was raised obviously,it implies that oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of GO,and the serum level of 8-OHdG might act as an activity index of GO.

Objective To discuss the clinical efficacy of internal fixation assisted by thoracoscope in treatment of rib fractures.Methods The study enrolled 180 patients with rib fractures associated with thoracic deformity hospitalized from July 2010 to June 2013.Ninety out of the patients were operated on by thoracoscope-assisted internal fixation (operation group),and the remaining 90 fractures were treated non-operatively (non-operation group).Clinical markers recorded were duration of pain,time of ventilator use,hospital length of stay and complications.Patient mental health was measured with self esteem scale (SES).Patient mobility was evaluated at follow-up.Results Between operation and non-operation groups differences were observed in duration of pain [(3.1 ± 1.0)d vs (8.9 ± 1.2) d],time of ventilator use [(3.0 ± 1.0) d vs (4.8 ± 1.0) d] and hospital length of stay [(10.0 ± 1.1) d vs (15.8 ± 1.0) d] (P ＜ 0.01).SES in operation group was (28.3 ± 2.1) versus (24.4 ± 3.3) points in non-operation group (P ＜ 0.01).No major complications occurred in operation group,but there were 20 pleural effusion,15 severe thoracic collapse or deformity,14 lung infection,10 refractory chest pain and 2 upper limb dysfunction in non-operation group (P ＜0.01).Two patients presented mobility limitation in operation group,but 12 had evident loss of mobility in non-operation group (P ＜0.01).Conclusions Thoracoscope-assisted internal fixation is effective to accelerate the pace of recovery,relieve pains,reduce complications and thus can be a priority method for treatment of rib fractures.