Acclimatization ; physiology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Chickens ; Cold Temperature ; Endocrine Glands ; physiology ; Female ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

As one of the major geriatric syndromes,frailty exerts adverse effects on life expectancy and quality of life of the elderly.Because of its importance,a number of methods and tools have been introduced for the assessment of frailty.Malnutrition,as an independent risk factor,interacts with frailty and is involved in its progression.This article reviews recent studies on frailty and malnutrition.

Objective To investigate the prenatal or intrapartum risk factors,resuscitation and its outcomes among full term but dying newborns after severe asphyxia (Apgar score was 0～1 at 1 min after birth).Methods Totally,39 dying full-term newborns,who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Shenzhen Maternity&Child Healthcare Hospital,Southern Medical University from January,2003 to June,2014 were analyzed retrospectively.Information on perinatal influencing factors and outcomes of resuscitation were collected and analyzed with Chi-square test.Results All of the babies were divided into died (n=7,18％,one refused to further treatment) and survived group [n=32,among which 15 suffered from hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE) (seven mild,seven moderate and one severe case)].Fetal heart beat was undetectable in more babies in the died group than in the survived group [2/7 vs 0％(0/32),x2=4.695,P=0.028].There were 19 infants with Apgar score ≤ 5 at 5 min,and seven of them died (7/19).The other 12 survived with HIE occurred in eight cases (four mild,three moderate and one severe case) and the rest four babies did not report any neurological complications.Among the ten infants with Apgar score ≤ 5 at 10 min,seven died or refused to treatment and the other three survived with moderate HIE.Conclusions Most of the dying term babies may have promising outcomes after effective resuscitation,especially for those with Apgar score over 5 at 5 min.However,for those dying term babies with Apgar score remains ≤ 5 at 5 min,management after resuscitation should be strengthened to reduce the occurrence of any sequelae or complications.

The maxillary first premolar is a transitional tooth between incisors and molars. Most maxillary first premolars have 2 root canals. However, the bilateral maxillary first premolar with 3 roots and 3 canals has not been described. This article reports a rare case:The bilateral maxillary first premolar with 3 roots and 3 canals.

OBJECTIVETo observe the intervention effects of electroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) on rats with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), so as to provide experiment references for acupuncture to treat T2DM.

METHODSAmong seventy male Wistar clean-grade rats, 8 rats were randomly selected into a control group; the rest rats were made T2DM model. Fifty-two rats which were successfully made T2DM model, according to randomized block method, were divided into a model group (10 rats), a medication group (10 rats), an electroacupuncture at "Shenshu" (BL 23) group (11 rats), an electroacupuncture at "Pishu" (BL 20) group (10 rats) and an electroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) group (11 rats). Seven days after successful establishment of model, the rats in the model group were fixed in the self-made rat bag without receiving any treatment; the rats in the medication group, according to body mass (10 mL/kg), were treated with intragastric administration of glimepiride; the rats in all the electroacupuncture groups were treated with electroacupuncture at "Shenshu" (BL 23), "Pishu" (BL 20) and "Yishu" (EX-B 3), respectively. The continuous wave was selected with a frequency of 15 Hz and a current intensity of 4 to 6 mA. The treatment was given 20 min per treatment, once a day, 5 treatments per week for continuous 4 weeks. Before the establishment of model and continuous 4 weeks after the intervention, blood samples were collected from rats' caudal vein, and fasting blood glucose (FBG) was measured with FBG device each week. After the last intervention, the rats were killed and hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal gland were collected. The colorimetric method was applied to measure the contents of triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C); radioimmunoassay was used to test the contents of glycated serum protein (GSP), fasting insulin (FINS), corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortin (CORT).

RESULTSFour weeks after the intervention, except that the rat's body mass in the normal group continued to increase, body mass in the model group, medication group and each electroacupuncture group were significantly reduced (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the FBG in the electroacupuncture at "Pishu" (BL 20) group and electroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) group were obviously reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01); FBG in the electroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) group was lower than that in the medication group and electroacupuncture at "Shenshu" (BL 23) group (both P<0.05). The contents of TG, HDL-C and LDL-C in the electroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) group were reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01), the content of TG was significantly lower than that in the medication group and electroacupuncture at "Shenshu" (BL 23) group (both P<0.05), the content of LDL-C was significantly lower than that in electroacupuncture at "Shenshu" (BL 23) group (P<0.05). Insulin sensitivity index (ISI) in the medication group, electroacupuncture at "Pishu" (BL 20) group and electroacupuncture at "Yishu (EX-B 3)" group were evidently increased (P<0.05, P<0.01); ISI in the medication group was lower than that in the electroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) group (P<0.05). The content of CRH in the electroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) group was lower than that in the medication group and electroacupuncture at "Shenshu" (BL 23) group (P<0.05, P<0.01); the content of CORT in the electroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) group was lower than that in the medication group and electroacupuncture at "Pishu" (BL 20) group (both P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at "Yishu" (EX-B 3) could reduce the level of CORT to improve the insulin resistance in rats with T2DM, improve insulin sensitivity index, regulate blood lipid metabolism and relieve the hyperactivity of the HPA axis.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; metabolism ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Hormones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Male ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and effect of transthoracic echocardiography(TTE)on guiding the occlusion of the soft-rim atrial septal defect(ASD).Methods Sixty two patients with the soft-rim ASD were enrolled.The size of ASD was measured and rim of ASD was observed by TTE on various views by using color Doppler system with tissue harmonic function before occlusion,and filmy rim of ASD with flapping which could not sustain occluder was eliminated.The size of occluder was selected by integratively judging the size of ASD and"sustainable diameter of ASD"The waist size of occluder was measured after releasing occluder and compared with the longest diameter of ASD and"sustainable diameter of ASD"measured by TTE.Results The longest diameter of ASD measured by TTE before occlusion was 11-35 mm[average(21.6±5.2)mm],the "sustainable diameter of ASD"was 15-37 mm[average(25.6±5.(J)mm],the size of selected occluder was 18-44mm[average(30.7±5.5)mini and the waist size of released occluder was 13-35 mm[average(24.2±5.6)mm].Fine correlation was existed between the longest diameter of ASD measured by TTE and the waist size of released occluder(r=0.86,P＜0.000I).Morever,improved correlation was found between the"sustainable diameter of ASD"measured by TTE and the waist size of released occluder(r=0.89,P＜0.0001).Occluder was firmly fixed without falling in all patients.Conclusions TTE with tissue harmonic function can be used to measure the size of soft-rim ASD and the"sustainable diameter of ASD".It is a feasible,and effective method on guiding occlusion of soft-rim ASD.

To analyze the composition regularity of prescriptions containing Scutellaria baicalensis in Drug Standard of Ministry of Public Health of the Peoples Republic of China--Chinese Patent Medicines and Preparations on the basis of the traditional Chinese medicine inheritance support system (TCMISS), in order to provide reference for new drug R&D. the platform's software V2.0 was applied to establish a database of prescriptions containing S. baicalensis. The software's statistical statement module, association rules and improved mutual information method and other data mining technologies were adopted to analyze commonly used drugs, combination rules and core combination of S. baicalensis prescriptions. Having analyzed 477 prescriptions containing S. baicalensis, the researchers summarized 45 most commonly used drug combinations, whose ingredients mostly had functions of heat-clearing and damp-drying, purging fire for removing toxin and hemostasis. Drugs adopted in core combinations were relatively concentrated and selected according to definite composition methods. There were 23 diseases that S. baicalensis were most frequently applied in the treatment. Having compared three highly frequent diseases--cold, cough and dizziness, the researchers concluded that S. baicalensis could show different therapeutic effects through different combination ratios. Therefore, TCMISS (V2.0) is an important tool in analyzing the composition regularity of traditional Chinese medicines. The longitudinal and parallel comparison method is an effective method for studying the clinical composition regularity of S. baicalensis, while providing reference for new drug R&D.
China ; Drug Compounding ; statistics & numerical data ; Drug Therapy ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; therapeutic use ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo analyze the reversal effect of Buzhong Yiqi Decoction (BYD) on multidrug resistance of human adenocarcinoma of lung cell line A549/DDP, and to study its effect on the expression of survivin by using serum pharmacological methods in vitro. Methods Totally 24 SD rats were divided into the high, medium and low dose groups, and the blank control group by randomized controlled method. The high dose BYD containing serum (1. 134 g/mL, 2 mL), the middle dose BYD containing serum (0.576 g/mL, 2 mL), and the low dose BYD containing serum (0.284 g/mL, 2 mL) were prepared. The inhibitory effects of different dose and concentrations BYD on the proliferation of A549 and A549/DDP cells were detected by MTT assay, and the drug resistance reversal fold was calculated. The expression of Survivin in the two cell strains were detected respectively by immunohistochemical assay, Western blot, and immunofluorescence method.

RESULTSBYD containing serum showed obvious inhibitory effect on the growth of A549 and 549/DDP. The inhibition rates of 10% dose groups were higher than those of 5% dose groups. Besides, it gradually increased along with increased concentrations. Compared with 10% blank control group, the inhibition rate increased in 10% middle and low dose groups (P <0.05). After acted with 10% middle dose BYD containing serum, IC50, of A549 and A549/DDP were both reduced (P <0.05), reversal fold (RF) both increased. Its reversal ratio on A549/DDP cells was 2. 46, decreasing the resistance of A549/DDP to DDP. Compared with A549 in the same group, the expression of Survivin was detected to decrease by immunocytochemical assay, Western blot, and immunofluorescence method (P<0.05). Compared with 10% blank control group, the inhibition rate decreased in 10% middle dose group (P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONS10% middle dose BYD containing serum could significantly inhibit the apoptosis of A549 and A549/DDP. Besides, it could moderately reverse the multidrug resistance of A549/DDP cells to DDP possibly through reducing the intracellular expression of Survivin and enhancing the sensitivity 549/DDP to chemotherapeutics.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; pharmacology ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) kinase cascade, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) signal pathway on Schwann cells proliferation promoted by Pyrroloquinoline Quinine (PQQ) and its molecular mechanisms.

METHODSSchwann cells were cultured and purified in vitro. The purity was identified by S-100. Different time and concentration of PQQ was added into culture medium. The expression of ERK1/2 and phosphorylated-ERK1/2 was detected by western blot. The expression of p-ERK1/2 after blocking of MEK signal pathway by specific inhibitor PD98059 was detected by western blot.

RESULTSMorphological change was observed in PQQ treated Schwann cells. 1-500 nmol/L PQQ could up-regulate the expression of p-ERK1/2, and 1000 nmol/L had no effects, while 10 000 nmol/L exhibited inhibitory effect (P < 0.05). p-ERK1/2 increased to peak 1 h after PQQ added, and this up-regulation of p-ERK1/2 was inhibited by PD98059 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPQQ could affect morphology of Schwann cells and activation of ERK1/2. MEK inhibitor PD98059 could, block this activation. It suggests that MEK/ERK signal pathway should be involved in Schwann cells proliferation promoted by PQQ.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; metabolism ; physiology ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; physiology ; Pyrroles ; pharmacology ; Quinolines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Schwann Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Signal Transduction

Objective To prospectively evaluate the effects of heart rate and heart-rate variability on dual-source computed tomographic coronary image quality in patients with high heart rates,and to determine retrospectively the accuracy of dualsource computed tomographic diagnosis of coronary artery stenosis in the same patients.Methods The image quality and diagnostic accuracy were compared between the normal group of 40 patients whose heart rates exceeded 70 beats/min and the control group of 40 patients whose heart rates were 70 beats/min or slower.Results No statistically significant differences between the groups were found in diagnostic-image quality scores of total segments or of any coronary artery,nor were any significant differences found between the groups in the accurate diagnosis of angiographically significant stenosis.Calcification was the chief factor that affected diagnostic accuracy.In high -heart -rate patients,heart -rate variability was significantly related to the diagnostic image quality of all segments(P=0.001) and of the left circumflex coronary artery(P=0.016).Heart-rate variability more than 5 beats/min most strongly contributed to an inability to evaluate segments in both groups.When heart rates rose,the optimal reconstruction window shifted from diastole to systole.Conclusion The image quality of dual -source computed tomographic coronary angiography at high heart rates enables sufficient diagnosis of stenosis,although variability of heart rates significantly deteriorates image quality.