Objective To observe whether the dopaminergic neuroprotective effect of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is associated with its inhibition of microglial cell activation in vivo. Methods The effects of EGCG at different doses on dopaminergic neuronal survival were tested in a methyl-4-phenyl-pyridinium (MPP+)-induced dopaminergic neuronal injury model in the primary mesencephalic cell cultures. With unbiased stereological method, tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive (TH-ir) cells were counted in the A8, A9 and A10 regions of the substantia nigra (SN) in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated C57BL/6 mice. The effect of EGCG on microglial activation in the SN was also investigated. Results Pretreatment with EGCG (1 to 100 μmol/L) significantly attenuated MPP+-induced TH-ir cell loss by 22.2% to 80.5% in the mesencephalic cell cultures. In MPTP-treated C57BL/6 mice, EGCG at a low concentration (1 mg/kg) provided significant protection against MPTP-induced TH-ir cell loss by 50.9% in the whole nigral area and by 71.7% in the A9 region. EGCG at 5 mg/kg showed more prominent protective effect than at 1 or 10 mg/kg. EGCG pretreatment significantly inhibited microglial activation and CD1 1b expression induced by MPTP. Conclusion EGCG exerts potent dopaminergic neuroprotective activity by means of microglial inhibition, which shed light on the potential use of EGCG in treatment of Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Han Chinese children and Val158Met polymorphism of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene caused by the missense mutation of G158A in exon 4.

METHODSBy using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms the Val158Met polymorphism of COMT gene was tested in 117 children with the diagnosis of ADHD as defined by DSM-IV and in 105 healthy controls living in Shanghai.

RESULTSThe frequencies of A allele were 25.21% and 23.81% in the ADHD group and the health controls respectively, which showed no significant difference between the two groups (Chi2=0.5197, P>0.05). There was also no significant difference in the distribution of all genotypes of COMT gene between the ADHD patients and the controls (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONIt was suggested that for the Han Chinese children with ADHD in this study, there was no association between ADHD and Val158Met polymorphism of COMT gene.

Adolescent ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; enzymology ; genetics ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; Child ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; pathology ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Wilms Tumor ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the presence of abnormal metabolism in the thalamus and hypothalamus in patients with first-episode depression.

METHODSThirty drug-naive patients with first-episode depression and 30 age-matched controls were scanned with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) for Naa, Cho, Cr and mI.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the patients showed significantly reduced mI and mI/Cr of the hypothalamus, reduced mI/Cr of the left thalamus, and lowered Cho, ml, and ml/Cr of the right thalamus (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPatients with first-episode depression may have myo-inositol and phosphoric acid metabolism disorder in the thalamus and hypothalamus with malfunction of cellular osmotic pressure adjustment mechanism. Abnormal mI/Cr in the thalamus and hypothalamus may represent an important biochemical change in advanced patients with depression.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Choline ; metabolism ; Creatine ; metabolism ; Depression ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Inositol ; metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Protons ; Thalamus ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate clinical and laboratory characteristics of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with t(7;11)(p15;p15).

METHODSEleven patients with t(7;11)(p15;p15) were retrospectively reviewed involved in cell morphology, immunophenotype, cytogenetics as well as clinical features and prognosis.

RESULTSEight patients out of the eleven were female, six patients were AML-M2a, two M4, two M5, and one M6. All the 11 cases expressed CD33, 10 expressed CD117 and CD13, HLA-DR and CD34 was expressed in 7 and 6 patients, respectively. Karyotypes of all the patients were t(7;11) (p115;p15), additional trisomy 8 were found in only one patient. FLT3-ITD was positive in one of nine patients who were analysed for FLT3-ITD and FLT3-TKD. Two patients were alive, and one lost to followed up, while the rest of eight were dead.

CONCLUSIONThe t(7;11) (p15;p15) abnormalities is one of rare chromosomal translocation in patients with AML. AML patients with t(7;11) (p15;p15) have clinical features of anemia, thrombocytopenia, higher white blood cell, and poor prognosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 7 ; Female ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Translocation, Genetic ; Young Adult ; fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2) and Bax on mouse islet cell apoptosis in the presence of high glucose in vitro.

METHODSThe pancreatic islet cells were isolated from Kunming mice and divided into 6 groups (G1-G6 groups) for a 72-h culture in the media containing different concentrations of glucose (5.6, 7.8, 11.1, 16.7, 22.2, and 27.6 mmol/L, respectively). Insulin secretion by the cells was evaluated by radioimmunoassay, and the expressions of IRS2 and Bax were detected using immunocytochemistry and immunofluorescence assay, respectively. Hoechst33342 staining was employed to observe the cell apoptosis.

RESULTSExposure to 5.6-11.1 mmol/L glucose resulted in increased insulin secretion and progressive elevation of IRS2 and Bax expression, whereas the cell apoptosis underwent no obvious changes. In the presence of glucose above 16.7 mmol/L, the percentages of apoptotic islet cells increased with glucose concentration, but insulin secretion and IRS2 expression decreased; Bax expression significantly increased in the presence of high-concentration glucose.

CONCLUSIONProlonged exposure of mouse islet cells to high glucose induces apoptosis and impairs insulin secretion of the cells. Decreased IRS2 expression and increased Bax expression may play an important role in the glucotoxicity in mouse islet cells.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cells, Cultured ; Glucose ; pharmacology ; Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins ; metabolism ; Islets of Langerhans ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of metformin on liver fat content (LFC) in first episode schizophrenia patients with olanzapine-induced weight gain, and the relationship between the change of LFC and the other metabolic indices. Methods: In a double-blind study, the clinically stable inpatients with first-episode schizophrenia under olanzapine monotherapy who gained more than 7% of their baseline weight were randomly assigned to two groups; one with olanzapine plus metformin (1,000 mg/day) (metformin group) and the other with olanzapine plus placebo (placebo group) for 16 weeks. All patients continued to maintain the original olanzapine dosage. LFC was measured by magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and at the end of 16 weeks, respectively. At the same time, glucose and lipid metabolism, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were measured respectively, analyzing the correlation between the change value of LFC and other indicators. Results: Over the 16-week study period, LFC value in metformin group decreased compared with baseline. LFC change across the 16-week treatment period was −2.91% for the metformin group and 0.59% for the placebo group, with a between-group difference of −3.5% (95% confidence interval, −6.08 to −0.93; p = 0.009). Compared to baseline, in the metformin group, triglyceride and HOMA-IR reduced significantly, while high density lipoprotein cholesterol increased significantly at weeks 16. There was positive correlation between LFC changes and triglycerides, HOMA-IR changes significantly. Conclusion Metformin can significantly attenuate LFC in schizophrenia patients with olanzapine-induced weight gain. It may be related to the improvement of the part of the glucolipid metabolic indices.

OBJECTIVETo establish a minimum medical geographic information systems (GIS) database as a spatial decision supporting system (SDSS), and to use the database into public health practice in China.

METHODSSpatial data collected from different sources were standardized as decimal degree format, including: (1) satellite images covering areas of China; (2) digital maps of China in vector files; (3) diseases database and relevant models.

RESULTSNecessary satellite images for the database have been collected from NOAA AVHRR, Landsat TM, etc., including the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) images from AVHRR, earth surface temperature images from AVHRR, GTOPO30 DEM images from USGS and landuse images from USGS. The digital vector files for GIS analysis were collected including political (county, provinces, country) boundaries file, environmental (drainage, land cover, soil type) vector file, population data and climate data; Data on diseases mainly generated from survey or case reporting. Relevant models on transmission of Schistosoma japonicum and Plasmodium vivax, and models of Oncomelania hupensis and Anophores sinansis were developed, and the relevant environmental factors related to incidence of cancers were mapped, to test and verify those database.

CONCLUSIONThe database unified the data from different sources for users. Minimum medical data included in the database could be used in the practice of public health. It is expected that this database be used in a wider range.

Animals ; Anopheles ; parasitology ; China ; epidemiology ; Databases, Factual ; Disease Reservoirs ; Disease Vectors ; Ecology ; Geographic Information Systems ; Humans ; Malaria ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; transmission ; Plasmodium vivax ; Satellite Communications ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; transmission ; Snails ; parasitology

Based on the clinical needs and examination requirements of standardized training students, the China national standardized training textbook Acupuncture and Moxibustion for residents of traditional Chinese medicine has made innovations in the textbook content and form. In the part of meridians and acupoints, the classic original text is introduced and the main indications and operation methods of 200 commonly-used acupoints are summarized in the form of tables. In the part of acupuncture and moxibustion technique, the operating procedures are standardized and the core technical points of 20 commonly-used acupuncture and moxibustion techniques are summarized in the form of flow chart. In the part of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment, 48 typical diseases are introduced in the form of case discussion, highlighting the problem orientation and demonstrating the diagnosis and treatment procedures.
Acupuncture/education* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; China ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Moxibustion

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of Venetoclax combined with CACAG regimen in treatment of patients with refractory/relapse acute myeloid leukemia(R/R AML).Methods:The study was a singlecenter prospective clinical trial.The enrolled patients met the criteria for R/R AML.Treatment included Azacidine(75mg/m2,d1-7),Ara-C(75-100 mg/m2,q12h,d1-5),Aclacinomycin(20 mg d1,d3,d5),Chidamide(30 mg d1,d4),Venetoclax(100 mg d1,200 mg d2,400 mg d3-d14,in combination with Triazole Drug,reduced to 100 mg/d),and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(300 μg/d until neutrophil recovery).The primary endpoint of observation was overall response rate after 1 course of treatment.Results:A total of 19 patients were enrolled from January 2022 to April 2023.After 1 course of treatmen,the overall response rate was 81.3％(13/16),the CR rate was 68.8％(11/16),and the PR was 12.5％(2/16).Among the 11 patients who got CR/CRi,8 cases achieved CRm(minimal residual disease negative CR)and 3 cases did not.As of March 27,2023,the median follow-up time was 111(19-406)days.The six-month overall survival and progression-free survival rates were both 55.7％,the 1-year overall survival and progression-free survival rates were 46.4％and 47.7％,respectively.In addition,compared with the non-CRm group,CRm patients had a better PFS(377 days vsi11 days,P=0.046).Treatment-related adverse events were mainly 3-4 degrees of bone marrow suppression,complicated by various degrees of infection(n=12),hypokalemia(n=12)and hypocalcemia(n=10)and elevated liver enzymes(n=8),of which 3/4 degrees accounted for 47.4％(9/19).Conclusion:The Venetoclax combined with CACAG regimen is an effective salvage therapy for patients with R/R AML,with high remission rate and safety profile.