OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical application value of Provider-Initiated HIV Testing and Counseling (PITC) by analyzing the positive rate of HIV tests for people in need of PITC and that of routine HIV tests.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the demographic and epidemiologic data about the patients seeking PITC services or undergoing routine HIV tests in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between January and December 2013.

RESULTSThe positive rate of initial HIV screening was 1.98% in the PITC group and 0.24% in the routine test group, while that of confirmed HIV was 0. 40% in the former and 0.07% in the latter, both with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.01). The positive rate of HIV was markedly higher in males than in females, particularly in the PITC group.

CONCLUSIONPITC has a high clinical value in HIV detection for targeted subjects and therefore deserves general application in dermatology.

Counseling ; Dermatology ; Female ; HIV Seropositivity ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Factors

Objective To study the effects of mild hypothermia on cardiomyocyte contractility improvement after ischemia-repeffusion injury and on the preservation of well-functioning mitochondrial respiratory capability.Methods A total of 50 newborn SD rats 1 ～ 2 days after delivery were sacrificed and their hearts taken to preserved in 4 ℃ cold D-hanks buffer solution with 0.12％ pancreatic proteinase and collagenase and then processed with 37 ℃ water bath to collect the cardiomyocytes cultured in DMEM medium with 10％ FBS for 5 days.The cardiomyocytes of rats were subjected to ischemia/reperfusion,in vitro,by oxygen and glucose deprivation(OGD)/oxygen and glucose restoration(OGR).The cardiomyocytes of rats after ischemia/reperfusion were divided into three groups:control group,hypothemia group and normothermia group.Contractile frequency and velosity were determined before OGD and 0 h,0.5h,1 h,1.5 h and 2 h after OGR.Ultrastructure changes of cardiomyocytes and mitochondrion were observed under transmission electron microscope(TEM)0 h and 2 h after OGR as well as assessment ot respiratory rate and respiratory control rate(RCR)with Clark oxygen electrode in each group.All data were analyzed with statistical software of SPSS 13.0.Results Contractile function of cardiomyocytes in hypothermia group and normothermia group declined to nadir at 0 h after OGR(P =0.000)and the contractile function of cardiomyocytes in hypothermia group was improved one hour later,compared with the normothermia group(P =0.000).Obvious swelling of mitochondrion was observed under TEM in normothermia group with little alteration after OGR.The RCR assessments indicated respiratory function in normothermia group was impaired after OGR(P =0.000)and this may be responsible for contractility dysfunction.Conclusions Mild hypothemia used after ischaemia can optimize the contractility of cardiomyocytes after a normothermia OGR,and the well-functioning respiratory capability of mitochondrion may be preserved in this process.

Objective: To construct a polycistron tandem repeated Echistatin (Ecs) gene. Methods: Three Ecs genes with independent initiation and termination codon were ligated tandem through restriction enzyme sites after amplified with 3 pairs of primers using pMD18T-Ecs as template. The polycistron Ecs gene was inserted into pET30a and expressed in E.coli BL21(DE3) with IPTG induction. The expression results were identified by 18% SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Results: The expression of Ecs polycistron was accomplished with 18% expression level of total protein determined by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Conclusion: The successful expression of Ecs polycistron provided a new method for the preparation of low molecular weight protein.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate incidence of postoperative delirium after hip surgery in elderly patients by meta-analysis.

METHODSFrom January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2013, clinical literatures about postoperative delirium after hip surgery in elderly patients,were searched from the Pubmed. Literature extract table were formed according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Stata-12.0 was applied for Meta-analysis. P was used to test heterogeneity of study, random-effect model was performed when I2 > 50%. Subgroup analysis was used according to stage of age, assessment scale of delirium and statistical area of literature. Begg test was used to test publication bias.

RESULTSTwenty-one literatures were included. Incidence of postoperative delirium after hip surgery in elderly patients by weighted and combination was 17% [95% CI (16%, 18%)]. Incidence of postoperative delirium after optional hip surgery was decreased more than emergency operation in included 5 literatures [OR = 0.32, 95% CI (0.22, 0.45)]. Incidence of postoperative delirium in patients less than 80 years old was 21% [95% CI (19%, 23%)], while 21% [95% CI (19%, 24%)] in patients more than 80 years old. Incidence of postoperative delirium in CAM evaluation scale was 23% [95% CI (21%, 26%)], while 19% [95% CI (17%, 21%)] in other evaluation scales. Incidence of postoperative delirium in Asian area was 17% [95% CI (15%, 20%)], while 23% [95% CI (21%, 25%)] in European and American area. There was no publication bias tested by Begg test (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIncidence of postoperative delirium after hip surgery in elderly patients increases higher, especially in emergency operation. A standardizing research method is benefit for evaluate incidence of postoperative delirium after hip surgery in elderly patients, decreasing heterogeneity and publication bias.

Aged ; Delirium ; epidemiology ; Hip Fractures ; surgery ; Humans ; Incidence ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Publication Bias

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy difference in the treatment of functional dyspepsia between acupuncture at the acupoints selected by pattern/syndrome differentiation and domperidone.

METHODSSeventy cases were randomized into an acupuncture group (35 cases) and a western medication group (35 cases). In the acupuncture group, Zusanli (ST 36) and Neiguan (PC 6) were selected. Taichong (LR 3) and Neiting (ST 44) were added for excess syndrome while Gongsun (SP 4) and Yinlingquan (SP 9) were added for deficiency syndrome. A pair of electrodes was attached to one acupoint and an assistant point (2 mm next to the acupoint centripetally) and stimulated with disperse-dense wave at 2 Hz/100 Hz, once a day. In the western medication group, domperidone was prescribed for oral administration, 10 mg each time, three times a day. In the two groups, the treatment of 5 days made one session and 4 sessions were required totally. Nepean dyspepsia index (NDI) was compared after treatment, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 months after treatment between the two groups respectively.

RESULTSThe score of symptom and score of life quality in NDI after treatment and at each follow-up time point were improved obviously in the acupuncture group as compared with those before treatment (all P < 0.01). In the western mediation group, the score of symptom and the score of life quality in NDI after treatment and in follow-up of 1, 2 and 3 months were improved obviously as compared with those before treatment (all P < 0.01), but the differences were not significant in follow-up of 4 and 5 months (both P > 0.05). Compared with the western medication group, the symptom score of NDI was reduced obviously after treatment and in each time point of follow-up in the acupuncture group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the score of life quality was increased obviously (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at the acupoints selected by pattern/syndrome differentiation and domperidone are effective in the treatment of functional dyspepsia. Domperidone is unsatisfactory in the long-term effect, but acupuncture achieves the positive short-term and long-term effects on functional dyspepsia.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Dyspepsia ; diagnosis ; psychology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Time ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND:Currently, literatures about autologous vein transplantation are few, and the research on the effect of different parts of autologous vein transplantation are not found yet. OBJECTIVE:To summarize the experiences of establishing the fistula using autologous vein transplantation so as to investigate the method of improving the success rate of surgery. METHODS:We analyzed retrospectively the data of 40 cases of establishing the fistula using autologous vein transplantation, and then compared the successful rate of autologous vein transplantation fistula, blood flow and operating time, thereby analyzing the influence of diabetes melitus on the successful rate of autologous vein transplantation fistula. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The successful rates of autologous vein transplantation fistula at different parts ranging from high to low were as folows: the cephalic vein, great saphenous vein, basilic vein and smal saphenous vein. Blood flow of the upper limb for vein transplantation fistula was obviously higher than that of the lower limb (P < 0.05). The operating time of autologous vein transplantation fistula was longer in the upper limbs than in the lower limbs (P < 0.01). For patients with diabetes melitus, the successful rate of autologous vein transplantation was markedly lower than those with no diabetes melitus (P < 0.01). For the hemodialysis patients with poor upper limb superficial vein, autologous vein transplantation is a better way of establishing the vascular access. Vein transplantation of the upper limbs is better than that of the lower limbs in success rate and operating time. Autologous vein transplantation fistula is not suitable for the patients with diabetes melitus.

Objective To assess the efficacy of intedeukin (IL)-1Ra,a recombinant human IL-1receptor antagonist,plus methotrexate ( MTX ) in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) refractory to MTX therapy.Methods A total of 54 patients with active RA,who had been taking MTX at a stable dosage,were randomized to receive daily subcutaneous injections of IL-1Ra (80 mg) or placebo.The proportion of patients who had a response as assessed by ACR20,ACR50 and ACR70 was analyzed using Chi-square test measures.Baseline variables and DAS28 were analyzed using Student's t-test (parametric) or Wilcoxon's rank sum test (nonparametric) as appropriate.Results After 24 weeks,more patients achieved clinical benefits treated with IL-1Ra plus MTX compared with MTX alone (64％ vs 17％,P=-0.004) as determined by the ACR20 improvement.In the IL-1Ra group,an ACR50 response was observed in 38％ and an ACR70 response in 17％.None of the patients treated with MTX alone achieved ACR50 or ACR 70 improvement.However,9 of 42 (21％) patients in the IL-1Ra group,who showed therapeutic response initially,had secondary drug failure to IL-1Ra therapy thereafter.A significant increase in mean DAS28 from baseline was found in the nonresponders to IL-1Ra,compared with placebo.Conclusion IL-IRa is effective for the treatment of patients with active RA by blocking IL-1.However,the efficacy of IL-1Ra is lost soon in about one-fifth of patients in soite of initial good resoonse.

Objective To study the effect of paeonol on the proliferation and apoptosis of A375 human melanoma cells and its mechanism.Methods Cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) was used to evaluate the proliferative activity of A375 cells treated with paeonol of 0.5,1,2,4,8 mmol/L for 24,48 and 72 hours respectively.Subsequently,A375 cells were treated with paeonol of 1.25,2.5 and 5 mmol/L for 24 hours followed by double staining with annexin V and propidium iodide for the detection of cell apoptosis,fluorometric assay for the estimation of caspase 3,caspase 8 and caspase 9 activity,and Western blot for the determination of the levels of p53,nuclear factor-κB proteins and some of their target proteins.The A375 cells receiving no treatment served as the blank control group.Statistical analysis was carried out by t test.Results Within the investigated concentration and time ranges,paeonol significantly inhibited the proliferative activity of A375 cells in a concentration-and timedependent manner.Compared with the blank control group,a significant increase was observed in the early apoptosis rate in A375 cells treated with paeonol of 1.25,2.5 and 5 mmol/L for 24 hours (13.74％-± 1.73％,25.95％ ± 0.57％ and 46.44％ ± 0.81％ vs.3.11％ ± 0.53％,P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01),as well as in the activity of caspase 3,8 and 9 in A375 cells treated with paeonol of 2.5 and 5 mmol/L for 24 hours (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).After 24-hour treatment,the protein levels of p53 and Bax were elevated,but those of nuclear factor-κB,Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL were decreased in A375 cells with the increase of paeonol concentration.Conclusions Paeonol can inhibit the proliferation but induce the apoptosis of A375 cells,and the apoptosis-inducing effect may be realized through intrinsic and extrinsic pathways by modulating nuclear factor-κB and p53 genes.

The target compounds were prepared from 5-aminobenzimidazolone by two steps reaction, and their AChE inhibitory activities were measured by Ellman method in vitro. The AChE inhibitory activity of compound 4d is the best of them, and its IC50 value is equal to 7.2 μmol·L(-1), which is better than that of rivastigmine; moreover the 4d had no inhibitory activities to BuChE. Therefore, the inhibitory activities of 5-aminobenzimidazolone derivatives to acetylcholinesterase are worth further researching.
Acetylcholinesterase ; metabolism ; Benzimidazoles ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Drug Design ; Phenylcarbamates ; chemistry ; Rivastigmine ; Structure-Activity Relationship

In this paper, fourteen new L-proline derivatives were designed and synthesized, and their acetlcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities were also investigated in vitro. New L-proline derivatives were prepared from substituted 2-bromo-1-acetophenones through four-step reaction; and their bioactivities as AChE inhibitors were measured by Ellman spectrophotometry. The results showed that the target compounds had a certain AChE inhibitory activity to in vitro. The bioactivity of compound 8b was the best of them, and its IC50 value was 5.45 µmol.L-1, which was better than that of rivastigmine. So the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of new L-proline derivatives were worth to be further studied.
Acetylcholinesterase ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Drug Design ; Proline ; analogs & derivatives ; Rivastigmine ; chemistry ; Structure-Activity Relationship