Objective To investigate the effect of HIV-1 protease inhibitor saquinavir on insulin signaling and β-cell function in rat INS-1 cells. Methods INS-1 cells were preincubated with 0 or 10 μmol/L saquinavir for 48 h, stimulated with 100 nmol/L insulin for 2 min or 20 mmol/L glucose for 30 min. Insulin signaling parameters were analyzed by immunoprecipitation and Western blot on cell lysates. Insulin concentrations in the supernatant were measured by ELISA, and standardized by cellular DNA contents. Cell count with trypan blue stain and MTT test were determined to evaluate the effect of saquinavir on cell viability. Results Treatment with saquinavir for 48 h significantly decreased insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of IRS-1, IRS-2 and Thr~(308)-phosphorylation of Akt in INS-1 cells by 60%, 66% and 55%, decreased the rate of basal insulin secretion and glucose-stimulated insulin release by 39% and 49% compared with control cells, respectively. Conclusions Treatment with saquinavir impairs insulin signal transmission in pancreatic β cells and results in insulin resistance in β cells. This effect might influence the function of β cells.

Fractional radiofrequency(FRF)is an aesthetic technique that utilizes electric current emanating from electrode or microneedle arrays to heat the dermis in a fractional pattern, with only little damage to the epidermis. The recovery process following the heat damage involves multiple heat shock proteins, matrix metalloproteinases, cytokines, etc, which can stimulate the proliferation of collagen and elastic fibers in the dermis. It has been applied to treat wrinkles, skin laxity, acne scars and other aesthetic skin problems, and has proved to be a safe and effective cosmetic method for the improvement of atrophic acne scars, inflammatory acnes and postinflammatory erythema. It has few adverse effects, including tolerable pain, transient erythema, edema and mild crusting, so the downtime is short. FRF is more suitable for populations with dark complexions because of low risks of postinflammatory hyper?pigmentation. Recently, it has been used in combination with other devices such as lasers, or been used to assist transdermal drug delivery, and has shown remarkable therapeutic effects and favorable application prospects.

Objective To compare the short-term efficacy of high-intensity ultraviolet B (UVB) versus 308-nm excimer laser for the treatment of vitiligo.Methods Eighty patients with vitiligo were equally divided into two groups to be treated with high-intensity UVB twice a week or 308-nm excimer laser once a week for eight weeks.Repigmentation was evaluated at the end of the treatment.Results After eight weeks of treatment,repigmentation of different degrees was observed in 83.6％ and 86.1％,and marked repigmentation in 42.1％ and 50％,of the UVB-and excimer laser-treated lesions,respectively.The response rate was significantly lower in facial lesions receiving high-intensity UVB radiation than in those receiving excimer laser radiation (49.1％ vs.68.4％,x2 =4.32,P ＜ 0.05),but similar at the other body sites between the two treatment (all P ＞ 0.05).The cumulative dosage required for initial repigmentation was similar between high-intensity UVB and 308-nm excimer laser (t =0.89,P ＞ 0.05),while the treatment sessions and cumulative dosage required for marked or better repigmentation were significantly increased in UVB-compared with excimer laser-treated lesions (both P ＜ 0.01).In addition,both high-intensity UVB and 308-nm excimer laser were suitable for childhood and active vitiligo.Conclusions Both high-intensity UVB and 308-nm excimer laser are safe and effective in the treatment of vitiligo with rapid onset of action,and the latter appears to be superior to the former in efficacy.

Objective 　To assess the association between the gene of complement C4A, C4B deficiency and schizophrenia. Methods　192 patients with schizophrenia and 142 healthy controls were tested with the amplification restriction fragment length polymorphism (Amp-RFLP) technique.Results　The frequency of C4AQ0/C4AQ0 homozygote was higher in the patient group than in the control group (χ2=8.54, P＜0.01). The relative risk (RR) of C4AQ0/C4AQ0 homozygote for schizophrenia was 6.8. There was no increased frequency of C4B deficiency in patients with schizophrenia (χ2=0.11, P＞0.05, RR=0.73).Conclusions　These results indicate that there is a positive association between complement C4A dificiency and schizophrenia. Moreover, our study did not support a widespread association between a deficiency in complement component C4B and schizophrenia.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in elderly people in Beijing.Methods Using multistage cluster random sampling,129 elderly people aged 60-80 years living around Dongzhimen communities were interviewed by mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Diseases and Stroke/ Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA) criteria for screening MCI and Alzheimer's disease (AD).Results Thirty-seven cases (28.7%) had amnestic MCI (aMCI),thirty-six cases (27.9%) had AD,and fifty-six cases (43.4%) were with normal cognitive state (NCS).The age was older in aMCI patients or AD patients than in NCS[(67.6±7.5)y vs.(62.5±7.9)y,(67.6±7.5)y vs.(62.5±7.9)y,both P<0.01],Andthe aMCI or AD patients had low level of education (P<0.05).The blood pressure was higher in the patients suffered from aMCI or AD than in people with NCS more or less (P<0.05).The prevalence of aMCI was related to the body mass index (BMI) (P<0.05),while that of AD had no significant relation with BMI (P>0.05).The prevalence of aMCI or AD was not significantly different between male and female or between different birth months.(all P>0.05).Conclusions The prevalence of aMCI increases with age,lower level of education,higher level of blood pressure and BMI,while it has no significant relations with gender or birth month.

Objective To investigate the changes of intestinal floras in elderly patients with first-episode untreated schizophrenia and to analyze the role of intestinal floras in schizophrenia .Methods Thirty elderly patients(≥60 years old) with first-episode un-treated schizophrenia treated in our hospital from July to October 2016 were selected as the observation group ,while 30 healthy peo-ple undergoing physical examination in the same period were selected as the control group .The bifidobacterium ,lactobacillus and bacteroides of stool samples in the two groups were tested by 16SrRNA real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR) .Results The bifidobacterium content of stool samples in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group ,while the bacteroides content was significantly higher than that in the control group ,moreover the ratios of bacteroides/lactobacillus and bacteroides/bifidobacterium in the observation group were significantly increased ,the difference was statistically significant (P<0 .05);the lactobacillus content had no obvious difference between the two groups .Conclusion The phenomena of intestinal flora disorder and intestinal flora disproportion exist in elderly patients with first-episode untreated schizophrenia .Intestinal flora may be involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia .

Objective To evaluate the effect of cardamonin on acute lung injury induced by hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation (HSR) in rats.Methods Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 18-24 weeks,weighing 200-250 g,were divided into 4 groups (n =8 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (group Sham);group HSR;cardamonin group (group CA);cardamonin + adenosina A2A receptor antagonist ZM241385 group (group CZM).Bilateral common carotid arteries were only cannulated in group Sham.The left common carotid artery was cannulated for blood-letting until mean arterial pressure was reduced to 35-45 mmHg and maintained at this level for 30 min,and the animals were then resuscitated by infusion of shed blood and normal saline two-fold volume of shed blood to establish HSR model in HSR,CA and CZM groups.ZM241385 5 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally at 30 min before blood-letting in group CZM,and cardamonin 75 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally immediately after the beginning of resuscitation in CA and CZM groups.The rats were sacrificed at 2 h after completion of resuscitation,bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected for determination of neutrophil count,and lungs were removed for microscopic examination of the pathological changes and for determination of wet/dry lung weight ratio (W/D ratio),contents of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-ct),interleukin-1 (IL-1β) and IL-6 (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and expression of adenosine A2A receptors in lung tissues (by Western blot).Results Compared with group Sham,the neutrophil count in BALF,W/D ratio and contents of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly increased,the expression of adenosine A2A receptors was significantly down-regulated in group HSR,and the neutrophil count in BALF and contents of TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly increased (P＜0.05),and no significant changes were found in W/D ratio,content of IL-1β,and expression of adenosine A2A receptors in group CA (P＞0.05).Compared with group HSR,the neutrophil count in BALF,W/D ratio and contents of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly decreased,the expression of adenosine A2A receptors was significantly up-regulated (P＜0.05),and the pathological changes were significantly attenuated in group CA,and no significant changes were found in the parameters mentioned above in group CZM (P＞0.05).Compared with group CA,the neutrophil count in BALF,W/D ratio and contents of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly increased,the expression of adenosine A2A receptors was significantly down-regulated (P＜0.05),and the pathological changes were aggravated in group CZM.Conclusion Cardamonin can attenuate acute lung injury induced by HSR in rats,and activated adenosine A2A receptors and inhibited inflammatory responses are involved in the mechanism.

Objective To investigate the application technology and effect of Navien catheter in intracranial aneurysms embolization.Methods The clinical data of 15 patients with intracranial aneurysm treated with Navien catheter in Department of Neurosurgery of Yijishan Hospital Affiliated to Wannan Medical College from March to December 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. The extracranial segments of internal carotid arteries were seriously tortuous in all patients. The coaxial system was used during procedure. Whether the Navien catheter could be smoothly placed into the target artery or not was observed,and the coils or stent-assisted coils were used to embolize the intracranial aneurysms in the corresponding positions. The immediate embolization results were assessed by the Raymond grading. The intraoperative and postoperative complications were observed and the patients were followed up by imaging.Results All 15 patients had abnormal tortuosity of extracranial segments of internal carotid arteries. The Navien catheter was able to smoothly pass through the tortuous vessels and reach the desired position. The stent-assisted coil embolization was used in 9 patients,and the coil embolization was used in 6 patients. The success rate of the coil and stent placement technology was 100%. The stents were all accurately put in place without shift. According to the Raymond grading,the immediate embolization rate of aneurysms showed that 15 patients achieved Raymond gradeⅠ. One case developed internal carotid spasm during the procedure. The patient was improved after giving papaverine. Others did not have intraoperative complications,such as cerebral vasospasm,vascular dissection,in-stent thrombosis,and intraoperative aneurysm rupture. Five patients were followed up for 3 to 6 months with digital subtraction angiography (DSA). There was no recurrence of aneurysm and no in-stent stenosis and shift,No rebleeding or cerebral ischemia was observed.Conclusion Forpatients with severely tortuous in extracranial segments of internal carotid artery,using the Navien catheter may overcome artery tortuosity and other unfavorable factors of the patients and successfully reach the target vessel position,enable the embolization of intracranial aneurysms to be completed successfully.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of endovascular treatment of posterior communicating artery aneurysm (PcoAA)in keeping the fetal posterior cerebral artery (FPCA) patency. Methods Form January 2014 to December 2015,14 patients with ruptured PcoAA enrolled retrospectively were treated with endovascular embolization. Six of them were treated with simple coil embolization,3 with stent-assisted coil embolization,3 with double catheter-assisted coil embolization,1 with stent-assisted coil embolization + double catheter technique,and 1 with Y-stent in Yijishan Hospital, Wannan Medical College. The immediate embolization rate of PcoAA (using Raymond grade),prognosis of the patients (the modified Rankin scale score at 6 months after procedure),complications,and imaging follow-up results were analyzed. Results The success rate of coil and stenting was 100% . All the stents were accurately released in place without displacement. The immediate Raymond grading of the aneurysms displayed that Raymond grade Ⅰ was in 8 cases,Raymond grade Ⅱ was in 4 cases,and Raymond grade Ⅲ was in 2 cases. All FPCA were kept patent. A coil protruded into internal carotid artery in one case during the procedure. Others did not have any complications,such as intraoperative cerebral vasospasm,in-stent thrombosis,and rupture. All 14 patients were followed up for 3 -24 months after procedure. Two had recurrence. Both were aneurysms embolized with coils only. No rebleeding and ischemic
complications were observed. The modified Rankin scale scores in 13 cases were 0 -2 at 6 months after procedure,1 was 4. Conclusions Endovascular embolization for the treatment of PcoAA and keeping FPCA patency are safe and feasible. A variety of endovascular treatment modalities are necessary in order to keep FPCA patency.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for influencing recrudescence after endovascular embolization of posterior communicating artery aneurysms.Methods From January 2014 to December 2014,71 consecutive patients (a total of 74 aneurysms) with posterior communicating artery aneurysm treated with endovascular treatment at the Department of Neurosurgery,Yijishan Hosptial of Wannan Medical College were enrolled retrospectively.The aneurysms were calculated as the number of cases (n=74).The aneurysms were divided into two groups according to whether they had recrudescence or not,including recurrent group (n=18) and non-recurrent group (n=56).The differences of the clinical data and aneurysm characteristics between the two groups were compared.Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors for recrudescence after endovascular embolization of posterior communicating artery aneurysms.Results Of the 74 patients with aneurysm,51 were treated with simple coil embolization and 23 were treated with stent-assisted coil embolization.All the coils were released satisfactorily.There were significant difference in the size of aneurysms and Raymond grade between the two groups (all P<0.01).The incidence of aneurysms with daughter cysts (55.6% [10/18] and the rate of non-stent-assisted coil embolization (88.9% [16/18]) in the recurrent group were significantly higher than those in the non-recurrent group (23.2% [13/56],62.5% [35/56]).The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (all P<0.05).There was no significant difference in other aneurysm features between the two groups (all P>0.05).After variable selection,the Raymond grade was referred to Raymond gradeⅠ.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the non-stent-assisted coil embolization (OR,4.789,95%CI 1.207-19.009,P=0.026),Raymond grade Ⅱ (OR,12.326,95%CI 3.838-39.592,P<0.01),Raymond grade Ⅲ (OR,36.884,95%CI 2.892-470.454,P=0.005) were the independent risk factors for recrudescence after embolization of posterior communicating artery aneurysms.Conclusion Non-stent-assisted coil embolization,Raymond Ⅱ and Ⅲ may cause recrudescence of posterior communicating artery aneurysms.