·AIM: To study the effect of an intravitreal injection of angiostatin on vascular leakage in the retina and iris of oxygen-induced retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).·METHODS: Brown Norway rats at postnatal day 7 (P7) were exposed to hyperoxia (750mL/L O2 )for 5 days (P7-12) and then returned to normoxia to induce retinopathy. Angiostatin was reconstituted in sterile Phosphate Buffered Saline(PBS) and diluted to desired different concentrations. Angiostatin solution was injected into the vitreous of the right eye of the ROP rats at P14 and the age-matched normal rats through pars plana using a glass capillary, and the left eye received the same volume of sterile PBS as the control. Vascular permeability was quantified at 1, 2 and 3 days after the injection by measuring albumin leakage from blood vessels into the retina and iris using the Evans blue method and normalized by total protein concentrations. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in retina was evaluated using the Western Blot analysis and immuno-histochemistry 24 hours following the injection.·RESULTS: ROP rats showed significant increases of vascular permeability in the retina and iris (P<0.01). Angio-statin reduces vascular permeability in a dose-dependent manner in the retina of ROP rats. The reduction showed a time course trend. [Angiostatin injection reduced retinal vascular permeability by approximately 1.5 and 2-fold at P15 (P<0.05) and P16 (P<0.01), respectively.] Angiostatin injection significantly reduced VEGF levels in the retina of ROP rats but did not affect retinal VEGF levels in normal rats.·CONCLUSION: Angiostatin significantly decreases pa-thological vascular permeability in the retina and iris of ROP rats but not in normal rats. Angiostatin down-regulates VEGF expression in retina of ROP rats. These results suggest that angiostatin may have a therapeutic potential in the treatment of ROP and other diseases with vascular leakage.

Aim at the two problems in the field of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) mechanism elucidation, one is the lack of detailed biological processes information, next is the low efficient in constructing network models, we constructed an auxiliary elucidation system for the TCM mechanism and realize the automatic establishment of biological network model. This study used the Entity Grammar Systems (EGS) as the theoretical framework, integrated the data of formulae, herbs, chemical components, targets of component, biological reactions, signaling pathways and disease related proteins, established the formal models, wrote the reasoning engine, constructed the auxiliary elucidation system for the TCM mechanism elucidation. The platform provides an automatic modeling method for biological network model of TCM mechanism. It would be benefit to perform the in-depth research on TCM theory of natures and combination and provides the scientific references for R&D of TCM.
Animals ; Automation ; instrumentation ; methods ; Databases, Factual ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

Comparing with the Western medicine, the clinical pathway development of Chinese medicine (CM)/integrative medicine (IM), on one hand, should follow the basic principles of general clinical pathway; on the other and prior hand, it ought to coordinate with the rule of CM, and display sufficiently the advantages of CM based upon the evidences. Several key issues which may be encountered in the development and the relevant strategies were introduced in this paper.
Critical Pathways ; Integrative Medicine ; methods ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods

Objective To understand the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of dengue fever in China from 2011 to 2018, and predict the incidence of dengue fever in China in 2019. Methods Based on the case data of dengue fever in China from 2011 to 2018 in the Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System, the trend of dengue fever was described and predicted by using the autoregressive integrated moving average model (ARIMA) with R 3.6.0 software. Based on the data of the incidence of dengue fever in the country, provinces and cities from 2011 to 2016 provided by the national scientific data sharing platform for population and health, global and local spatial autocorrelation analysis was performed using GeoDa 1.12 software to determine the dengue fever hotspots. Results The incidence of dengue fever was 14 302 in 2019, showing no disease outbreaks. The incidence of dengue fever in 2012(Moran’s I=-0.088, P=0.037), 2013(Moran’s I=-0.121, P=0.040) and 2014(Moran’s I=-0.076, P=0.045) showed a global spatial negatively correlaton. In 2016(Moran’s I=0.078, P=0.048), the incidence of dengue fever was positively correlated with global space. The results of local autocorrelation analysis showed that the high incidence of dengue fever was mainly in the southeast coastal areas of China. Conclusions In 2019, the epidemic of dengue fever in China showed no obvious fluctuation trend, and the epidemic situation showed spatial clustering distribution.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of survivin and COX-2 in giant cell tumor of bone (GCT) and explore the prognostic factors for GCT.

METHODSThe expressions of survivin and COX-2 in 39 GCT tissues of three Jaffe grades and 4 normal bone tissues were detected by immunohistochemical staining, and the data were analyzed in relation to the clinicopathological features of the patients.

RESULTSThe expressions of survivin and COX-2 were significantly higher in the GCT tissues than in normal bone tissues (P<0.01). A positive correlation was found between survivin and COX-2 expressions and the pathological grade (P<0.01), but their expressions were not correlated to the patients' gender, age or surgical approaches (P>0.05). An obviously lowered recurrence rate was observed in patients with resection of the bone segment compromised by the tumor and subsequent bone grafting. Survivin and COX-2 were not independent risk factors of the prognosis of GCT.

CONCLUSIONSurvivin and COX-2 expressions may participate in the pathogenesis and development of GCT, but is not indicative of the prognosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Giant Cell Tumor of Bone ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Young Adult

Qumazi is a commonly used Tibetan medicine. With a long history, it can be found in the Four Medical Tantras written by gYu-thog rNying-ma Yon-tan mGon-po since the 8th century AD. Qumazi grows in mudflats and fields, including species growing in highlands, lowlands, mountains and farmlands. According to records in Crystal Beads Materia Medica, it features green sword-shaped leaves, thin stems with red veins, inserted panicles, white chicken-like flowers and copper needle row-like roots. However, there are many inconsistent morphological descriptions for Qumazi plants in many Chinese versions of Tibetan medicine books. In this article, after studying ancient and modern Tibetan medicine books, consulting experts and conducting surveys, the authors confirmed that Qumazi belongs to Rheum of Polygonaceae, including Rheum nobile Hook. f. et. Thoms, R. globulosum Gage, R. alexandrae Hook. f. et. Thoms, R. pumilum Maxim and R. delavayi Franch. In some regions, Qumazi is substituted by R. spiciforme Royle and R. przewalskyi Losinsk. After the Chinese version of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Drug Illustrations was published in 1972, Qumazi has been miswritten as P. sibiricum Laxm in many Chinese versions of Tibetan medicine books, perhaps because P. sibiricum Laxm has many similar features with Qumazi as described in Crystal Beads Materia Medica and then is mistranslated from Tibetan to Chinese versions. According to records, Qumazi can reduce edema and is mainly applied to treat the minamata disease in clinic.
China ; History, Ancient ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; history ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Polygonaceae ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Reference Books, Medical

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of telmisartan on voltage dependant potassium channel (Kv) expression in lymphocytes from spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR).

METHODSPeripheral blood was collected from male SHR aged 16 and 4 weeks. Peripheral lymphocytes were separated from heparinized whole blood by standard Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation. The whole-cell Kv currents were recorded with patch-clamp technique in the absence and presence of telmisartan(10, 30, 100 µmol/L). Real-time PCR was used to determine Kv1.3 mRNA expression in lymphocytes.

RESULTS(1) The currents density of Kv was higher in lymphocytes from 16 weeks-old SHR [ (119.0 ± 9.6) pA/pF] than from 4 weeks-old SHR [(59.0 ± 7.2) pA/pF, P < 0.05]. (2) Currents density was positively correlated with systolic blood pressure in 16 weeks-old SHR (r = 0.837, P < 0.05). (3) The lymphocytes Kv 1.3 mRNA expression was significantly higher in 16-weeks-old SHR than in 4-weeks-old SHR (P < 0.05). (4) Telmisartan reduced the whole-cell Kv currents in a concentration-dependent manner (10.5 ± 3.4)% at 10 µmol/L, (45.8 ± 3.7)% at 30 µmol/L and (81.6 ± 4.2)% at 100 µmol/L, P < 0.01.

CONCLUSIONSThe lymphocyte Kv channel is upregulated in 16 weeks-old SHR suggesting a role of Kv in the pathophysiology of hypertension. Kv current in lymphocyte could be significantly blocked by telmisartan in a concentration dependent manner.

4-Aminopyridine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Benzimidazoles ; pharmacology ; Benzoates ; pharmacology ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the association of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) with overweight or obesity in children.

METHODSA total of 2889 healthy children and 702 overweight or obese children aged from 7 to 18 years who had received a physical examination were enrolled. Height, body weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure were measured, and the biochemical indicators including blood glucose, blood lipids, ALT, and insulin were detected. The insulin resistance index were calculated.

RESULTSThe ALT level was significantly higher in boys than in girls. Along with the increase of BMI, the ALT level increased in the normal, overweight, and obese groups in both boys and girls. ALT was correlated with BMI, waist circumference, triglyceride, and insulin resistance index. Among the overweight or obese children, the boys with the increased ALT level had higher BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein and insulin resistance index than the boys with normal ALT level (P<0.05); the girls with the increased ALT level had higher waist circumference, blood pressure and insulin resistance index and lower high density lipoprotein than the girls with normal ALT level (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSALT is correlated with overweight and obesity and metabolic disorders caused by overweight and obesity such as dyslipidemia and insulin resistance.

Adolescent ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Obesity ; enzymology ; Overweight ; enzymology

OBJECTIVETo summarize and analyze the clinical characteristics and diagnostic and therapeutic measures for the first human case of H5N1 avian influenza pneumonia in mainland of China.

METHODSThe clinical data of the first case of H5N1 avian influenza virus infection in China were analyzed and summarized.

RESULTSThe case is a 9-year old boy, who developed acute symptoms of a light common respiratory infection, including fever and dry cough without obvious catarrh. On the 7th day after onset, his temperature reached 40 degrees C, tachypnea occurred, distinct rales could be heard and large areas of consolidation were seen in the lungs on chest X-ray. The patient's peripheral blood leukocyte count was 2.81 x 10(9)/L and neutrophils dominated. After comprehensive therapeutic approaches, including antiviral therapy (amantadine) and use of low-dosage glucocorticoid, the patient's temperature returned to normal on the 3rd hospitalization day, chest X-ray showed absorbed inflammatory change on the 5th day after admission, and leukocyte count became normal on the 6th day. No complication occurred during the whole course. The case was diagnosed by the 4 fold raised antibody to the H5N1 influenza virus in recovery stage serum because the H5N1 nucleic acid test in early stage was negative. The case was cured and discharged after 3 weeks comprehensive treatment.

CONCLUSIONSIt is very important for clinicians to pay enough attention to epidemiological history, especially history of exposure to avian influenza virus contaminated material, which will be very helpful for early detection, early diagnosis of the disease, and also very important for effective treatment and better prognosis.

Amantadine ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; immunology ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Birds ; Child ; China ; Glucocorticoids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Influenza in Birds ; transmission ; Influenza, Human ; complications ; diagnosis ; Male ; Pneumonia ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; virology ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of hypertension and the relationship between hypertension and obesity in children and adolescents aged 6-18 years in Nanning, Guangxi Province, China.

METHODSA stratified cluster random sampling method was adopted in Nanning to select 7 893 children and adolescents aged 6-18 years as research subjects. Questionnaire surveys were conducted, and blood pressure, height, weight, and other indicators of growth and development were measured.

RESULTSAn increasing trend with age for both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was observed. Detection rates of hypertension, high SBP (HSBP) and high DBP (HDBP) were 6.58%, 4.02% and 3.81%, respectively. The detection rates of hypertension and HSBP in boys were significantly higher than in girls (P<0.05). The detection rates of hypertension in normal, overweight and obesity groups were 3.87%, 9.84% and 19.23%, respectively. The obesity group showed the highest detection rates for hypertension, HSBP and HDBP, followed by the overweight group and normal group. Compared with that in the normal group, the odds ratios (95% CI) for hypertension in the overweight and obesity groups were 2.71 (1.69-5.96) and 5.91 (3.46-7.63), respectively. Blood pressure showed a positive correlation with age, height, weight and BMI (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe present study provides with the current information and characteristics of blood pressure of children and adolescents aged 6-18 years in Nanning, Guangxi. Blood pressure is correlated with gender, age, height, weight and BMI. Obesity is positively correlated with the prevalence of hypertension and the risk of hypertension increases with body weight.

Adolescent ; Body Weight ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Sex Characteristics