Objective To assess the safety of living environment by the elderly, further clarify the relevant factors of the elderly fall in the living environment. Methods The self- made assessment form of fall-related factors of living environment for elderly patients was used to survey 1 076 elderly. Likert five grades score was used for each item, and the higher score demonstrated the safer living environment. Results In the assessment of the safety of living environment, the indoor physical environment (3.94 points), home furniture safety (3.66 points) score was better;home ground and the channel (3.32 points) and outdoor activities places (3.57 points) score was lower. Scores of home′s ground and channel, furniture safety, indoor physical environment and living environment of urban elderly were (23.56 ± 6.49), (44.52 ± 7.72), (11.93 ± 2.49), (105.03 ± 17.82) points, which were better than (22.46 ± 6.39), (42.73 ± 7.95), (11.53 ± 2.39), (101.55 ± 18.15) points of rural elderly (t=2.471-3.495, P <0.05). Conclusions The indoor physical environment, home furniture safety got higher scores, and the scores of ground-channel environment and outdoor activities places were relatively lower. Scores of the safety of living environment in urban are better than in rural. It suggests the elderly living environment need to reduce the incidence of falls.

Objective To analyze the effect of modified Yulin Decoction on hormones and ovarian function in patients with premature ovarian failure (POF).Methods 142 cases of patients with POF and kidney-yang deficiency syndrome were selected and randomLy divided into the control group (n=64) and the observation group (n=78).Levels of serum hormones and ovarian function,the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom score in the two groups were observed before and after treatment.Results Before treatment, there were no significant differences between the two groups in the scores and levels of hormones.After treatment, levels of serum FSH, LH and E2 were significantly decreased in the two groups, and the changes were more obvious in the observation group than the control group (P<0.05).After treatment, TCM symptom scores of two groups were significantly decreased, and the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion Modified Yulin Decoction is significantly effective in the treatment of POF of spleen and kidney-yang deficiency syndrome.It can significantly improve the level of estrogen, adjust endocrine and relieve clinical symptoms.

As a clinical diagnosis and treatment of low back pain,straight leg raising test has been used most commonly more than 100 years.It is simple and practical,and has a high clinical value.As a very mature orthopedic special examination,straight leg raising test progress in non-orthopedic applications more often than orthopedic aspects.Of course,the most important thing is the diagnosis of low back pain,followed by the treatment of low back pain,and then can be used as a respiratory and circulatory aspect of diagnosis and treatment options.This article elaborated the principle of straight leg raising test and the clinical research progress in order to give the clinician some guidance.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of 8-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) photodynamic therapy (PDT) on the cell proliferation, apoptosis and collagen secretion in keloid fibroblasts and to provide the theoretical base for ALA-PDT treatment of keloids.

METHODSFibroblasts from keloid patients were cultured to the third generation in vitro and incubated in 0, 1, 3, 6, 9 mmol/L of δ-aminolevulinic acid for 3 h in the darkness. Then they were exposed to 635 nm wavelength red light ( 30 J/cm2 ) and continued incubation 24 h after irradiation. CCK-8 assay was used to detect proliferation inhibition rate of fibroblasts. The content of hydroxyproline was measured by colorimetric method. The expression of p-Akt and programmed cell death 4 ( PDCD4) were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSThe inhibition rate of keloid fibroblasts were respectively 0, (8.30 ± 1.01)%, (29.48 ± 3.27)%, (52.01 ± 5.34)%, (79.99 ± 5.85)% with the presence of difference concentrations (0, 1, 3, 6, 9 mmol/L) of ALA. The content of hydroxyproline were respectively (9.540 0 ± 0.352 42), (6.242 5 ± 0.224 85 ), (5.107 5 ± 0.534 88), (3.490 0 ± 0.623 48), (2.945 0 ± 0.514 10) μg/mg. The relative expression of p-Akt were respectively 1, 0.75 ± 0.12, 0.52 ± 0.14, 0.41 ± 0.18, 0.32 ± 0.09. The relative expression of PDCD4 were respectively 1, 1.18 ± 0.19, 1.51 ± 0.22, 0.15 ± 0.30, 2.44 ± 0.22. The difference was statistically significant when compared the group of 1, 3, 6, 9 mmol/L with 0 mmol/L (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIn concentration within the range of 1-9 mmol/L, ALA could inhibit the proliferation of fibroblasts significantly, promote fibroblasts apoptosis and reduce the content of hydroxyproline in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that 8-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy may be a potential treatment for keloid.

Aminolevulinic Acid ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Collagen ; secretion ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; secretion ; Humans ; Keloid ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Light ; Photochemotherapy ; methods ; Photosensitizing Agents ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: To prepare indapamide sustained release capsules and investigate its release in vitro. METHODS: Blank pellets, hydrated magnesium silicate, hypromellose cellulose, triethyl citrate, Eudragit RL 100, Eudragit RS 100, Eudragit LS 55, etc, were used as materials to prepare indapamide sustained release capsules The content was determined by HPLC, and the effects of different solid weight gains of sustained release material on release of indapamide from capsules were evaluated by in vitro release test. RESULTS: The release in vitro of the sustained release pills met the requirements when the solid weight gain of the materials was 5.0% to 5.3%. CONCLUSION: The optimum preparation technique of indapamide sustained release capsules is established, which has guiding significance for the practical manufacture.

Autophagy is an important homeostatic cellular recycling mechanism responsible for degrading injured or dysfunctional cellular organelles and proteins in all living cells. Aging is a universal phenomenon characterized by progressive deterioration of cells and organs due to accumulation of macromolecular and organelle damage. Growing evidences indicate that the rate of autophagosome formation and maturation and the efficiency of autophagosome/lysosome fusion decline with age. Dysfunctional autophagy has also been observed in age-related diseases. Autophagy disruption resulted accumulation of mutated or misfolded proteins is the essential feature of neurodegenerative disorders. However, in cancers, fibroproliferative diseases or cardiovascular diseases, autophagy can play either a protective or destructive role in different types of disease, and even in different stages of the same disease. The review will discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms of autophagy and its important role in the pathogenesis of aging and age-related diseases, and the ongoing drug discovery strategies for therapeutic intervention.
Aging ; Autophagy ; Drug Discovery ; Humans ; Lysosomes ; metabolism ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Phagosomes ; metabolism ; Protein Folding

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of ultraviolet B (UV-B) induction on the content of two kinds of secondary metabolites in mulberry leaves and differential proteomics under UV-B induction. METHODS: The HPLC chromatograms of secondary metabolites in leaves before and after UV-B induction were established and quantitative analysis of two kinds of secondary metabolites was performed. The subcellular structure of mulberry leaves under UV-B induction was observed using transmission electron microscopy. Proteomic analysis of mulberry leaves was performed using two-dimensonal electrophoresis (2-DE). RESULTS: The subcellular structure of mulberry leaves was destroyed under UV-B induction. The contents of moracin N and chalcomoracin in mulberry leaves were increased with the dark incubation time and they maximized at 36 and 40 h, respectively. The result of proteomics showed that the abundance of chalcone synthase (CHS) which is the key enzyme of flavonoid biosynthesis pathway was increased significantly. CONCLUSION: The secondary metabolism especially for flavonoids biosynthesis in mulberry leaves is changed under UV-B induction and dark incubation, which result in the increased moracin N and chalcomarcin.

Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Sepsis ; diagnosis

Objective To investigate the relationship between endothelial damage and p120-catenin (p120-ctn) in a model of paraquat intoxication,and the modulatory effect of mangiferin on p120-ctn.Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured in two compartment spreading apparatus in vitro.The endothelial cells were divided into three groups:control group (cultured in DMEM with 10％ fetal bovine serum),paraquat group (paraquat was added to the medium with final concentration of 0.05 μmol/L) and mangiferin group (cultured in medium with addition of paraquat for 30 minutes,then mangiferin was added in a final concentration of 20 μmol/L).The cellular permeability at 6,12,24,48,72 hours after culture in the three groups was measured.The expressions of p120-ctn 1A,p120-ctn 3A mRNA and p120-ctn protein were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western Blot analysis.The distribution of p120-ctn protein was observed by immunofluorescence.Results Compared with control group,cellular permeability in paraquat and mangiferin groups were increased with prolongation of time,and peaked at 72 hours [(29.86 ± 3.98)％,(24.39 ± 2.79)％ vs.(11.71 ± 1.67)％,both P＜0.05].The cellular permeability was significantly lower in mangiferin group than that in paraquat group at different time points (all P＜0.05).At 6 hours after intoxication,the expressions of p120-ctn 1A,p 120-ctn 3A mRNA (gray value) and p 120-ctn protein (gray value) were significantly lower in paraquat group than those in control group (p120-ctn 1A mRNA:0.150 ± 0.024 vs.0.433 ± 0.024,p120-ctn 3A mRNA:0.316 ± 0.043 vs.0.701 ±0.020,p120-ctn protein:0.485 ±0.031 vs.0.763 ±0.038,all P＜0.01).The expressions of p120-ctn 1A,p120-ctn 3A mRNA and p120-ctn protein were significantly higher in mangiferin group than those in paraquat group from 6 hours on (p120-ctn 1A mRNA:0.281 ± 0.021 vs.0.150 ± 0.024,p120-ctn 3A mRNA:0.602 ± 0.042 vs.0.316 ± 0.043,p120-ctn protein:0.675 ± 0.031 vs.0.485 ± 0.031,all P＜0.01),and they were gradually increased with prolongation of time,and peaked at 72 hours (p120-ctn 1A mRNA:1.376 ±0.128 vs.0.150 ± 0.024,p120-ctn 3A mRNA:1.251 ± 0.059 vs.0.316 ± 0.043,p120-ctn protein:0.844 ± 0.050 vs.0.485 ± 0.031,all P＜ 0.01).Under upright fluorescence microscope,p120-ctn was mainly distributed in the cell membrane in control group,with a slight expression in cytoplasm,and no expression in the nuclei.With prolongation of time,p120-ctn expression in the cell membrane was gradually decreased in paraquat group,while it was increased in the cytoplasm and nuclei,with blurring of cell membrane and widening of cellular gap.p120-ctn expression was improved on the cell membrane in mangiferin group at corresponding time points,with decreased in expression in nuclei and cytoplasm.Conclusion The p120-ctn protein plays an important role in the enhancement of endothelial permeability in paraquat intoxication,and mangiferin may attenuate endothelial injury in paraquat intoxication possibly through modulation of p 120-ctn protein.

OBJECTIVE:To study the volatile constituents of the compound extract from Folium Perillae,Pericarpium Citri and Herb Schizonepetae in Siji Ganmao tablet by supercritical CO2 fluid extraction (SFE-CO2). METHODS:Supercritical CO2 ex-traction technology was used to extract the volatile constituents of 3 medical material in Siji Ganmao tablet. The chemical constitu-ents of the compound extract from 3 medicinal materials were analyzed by GC-MS. RESULTS:The extracting rate of SFE-CO2 was 2.21%,21 compounds in the compound extract were separated and 16 compounds were identified with the major components of si-nensetin(36.56%)and linolic acid(19.52%). The extracting rate of water steam distillation(SD)was 1.035%,51 compounds in the compound extract were separated and 32 compounds were identified with the major components of D-limonene(62.40%) and thujone(15.49%). CONCLUSIONS:The volatile constituents of F. perillae,P. cCitri and H. Schizonepetae can be compound ex-tracted by SFE-CO2,however,it is different from the constituents of the compound volatile oil by SD.