Four-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were rendered diabetic by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) after feeding high-fat-diet for 8 weeks,and divided into diabetes group and tumor necrosis factorrelated apoptosis ligand(TRAIL) group.Normal rats severed as a control group.Treatment with TRAIL lasted for 3 months.Total cholesterol,triglycerides,low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol,blood glucose,and insulin levels were decreased in TRAIL group,as compared with diabetes group.Area of atherosclerotic lesion in TRAIL group [(23.8 ± 5.7) ％] was significantly smaller than that in diabetes group [(47.6 ± 7.8) ％].It suggested that TRAIL may reduce the area of atherosclerotic lesion in diabetic rats.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of orthostatic hypotension in hypertensive patients aged 80 or over and associated risk factors at level A tertiary hospitals.Methods A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted among very old hypertensive patients (≥ 80 years) at 28level A tertiary hospitals by using questionnaire-based surveys.A total of 1298 hypertensive subjects aged between 80 and 101 years were enrolled in this study.Blood pressures was measured in the supine position and the upright position within three minutes of standing,and 316 patients were assigned to the orthostatic hypotension(OH) group and the other 982 patients to the non-orthostatic hypotension(NOH) group.Additional information was acquired through patients' medical records and the questionnaire.Results The prevalence of OH was 24.3％ (316 cases) There were no significan different betueen OH patienl with NOHones in gender and age.OH patients had higher supine systolic and diastolic blood pressure(P=0.003 and 0.000,respectively),lower standing systolic and diastolic blood pressure(P=0.000 and 0.000,respectively),and higher rates of past coronary heart disease,stroke and renal abnormalities (P =0.037,0.001 and 0.014,respectively) than NOH patients.Logistic regression analysis showed that the prevalence of OH in the patients was positively correlated with supine systolic blood pressure(OR=1.196,CI:1.153-1.242,P=0.000) and supine diastolic blood pressure (OR =1.740,CI:1.602-1.885,P =0.000) and was negatively correlated with standing systolic blood pressure(OR =0.824,CI:0.795-0.855,P=0.000) and standing diastolic blood pressure (OR =0.584,CI:0.539-0.634,P =0.000).Conclusions The prevalence of orthostatic hypotension is high in hypertensive patients aged 80 years or over at level A tertiary hospitals.Poor blood pressure control may increase the risk of orthostatic hypotension.

Objective To evaluate the survival benefit of amphotericin B (AmB) plus flucytosine or fluconazole for treatment of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated cryptococcal meningitis.Methods The following database were searched from the beginning to October 2013,including Cochrane library,PubMed,OVID,Embase,Wanfang Date,CNKI and Chinese Biomedical Database,and the references of eligible studies were manually screened.Reference lists of relevant articles were screened according to selection and extraction criteria.Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2.Results Four prospective controlled studies with a total of 399 patients with cryptococcal meningitis were identified,including 386 patients with AIDS-associated cryptococcal meningitis and 13 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative patients.Two hundred and twentyseven patients were treated with AmB and flucytosine combination therapy,including 217 patients with AIDS-associated cryptococcal meningitis and 10 HIV-negative patients.One hundred and seventy-two patients were treated with AmB and fluconazole combination therapy,including 169 patients with AIDS-associated cryptococcal meningitis and 3 HIV-negative patients.The Meta-analysis revealed that the mortality rate in AmB plus flucytosine combination therapy group was 6.6％ (95％ CI:18.5％-31.6 ％) at two weeks point,which was significantly lower than that in AmB plus fluconazole combination group (19.7％,95％CI:-23.6％-62.9％; OR=0.51,95％CI:0.27-0.93,P＜0.05).But at 10 weeks point,the mortality rate in flucytosine combination group was 12.9％ (95％oo CI:-22.2％-48.0％),which was lower than that in fluconazole combination group (31.4％,95％ CI:-23.1％-85.9 ％).However,there was no statistically significant difference between these two groups at 10 weeks point (OR=0.70,95％CI:0.44-1.13,P=0.15).Conclusion Administration of AmB plus flucytosine at early stage can reduce the mortality rate in patients with AIDS-associated cryptococcal meningitis.

Objective To identify the factors related to radiation pneumonia (PR) in lung cancer treated with intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).Methods Data from 163 lung cancer patients treated with IMRT were analyzed with clinical factors and physical parameters related to the dose-volume histogram.The patients were followed for 6 months after radiotherapy.The relationship between survival status and PR was analyzed.Results The incidence rate of over grade 2 patients was 28.22 ％ (46/163).Univariate analysis revealed a significant relationship between many parameters associated with such as the site of lobe (P =0.033),COPD (P =0.020),chemotherapy (P =0.020) and prophylactic using of glucocorticoid and antibiotic (P =0.025).Multilogistic regression analysis showed that V20 in the contralateral site,the V5 of the all lungs and PTVV were independent factors.Conclusion The RP is associated with multiple factors.Individualized treatment plans should be made according to the specific circumstances of patients.

Objective To investigate the effect of growth differentiation factor 11 ( GDF11 ) on aorta in apolipoprotein E-Null( ApoE-/-) mice and its possible mechanisms. Methods Four-week-old healthy male ApoE-/-mice were fed with high-fat diet for 1 week and were then divided into 4 groups:vehicle group(n=10), GDF11 group (n=10),adeno-associated virus-green fluorescent protein group(AAV-GFP group, n=10), and AAV-GDF11 group ( n=10 ) . The mice received intraperitoneal injection with phosphate buffered saline, GDF11 protein, a single injection of purified AAV-GDF11 or AAV-GFP through the tail vein, respectively. After 4 weeks, serum GDF11/8 level and endothelium-dependent vasodilatation were detected. After 12 weeks, serum GDF11/8, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α( TNF-α), total cholesterol ( TC), triglycerides ( TG), oxidized low density lipoprotein(ox-LDL), and free fatty acids(FFA)levels were measured, the plaque areas in aortic enface and cross sections were measured by oil red O or HE staining, the macrophages/T lymphocytes infiltration in plaques were detected with immunohistochemistry, and the mRNA expressions of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-10 were determined by real-time PCR. Results Compared with vehicle or AAV-GFP groups, GDF11 and AAV-GDF11 groups presented improved endothelium-dependent vasodilatation, decreased levels of blood inflammatory factors, blood lipid, reduced plaque on face area sections[Vehicle group : GDF11 group:(31. 23 ± 3. 12)% vs (17. 18 ± 2. 17) %;AAV-GFP group : AAV-GDF11 group:(38.01±4.43)% vs(14.54±2.86)%,P<0.05]andcrosssections[Vehiclegroup :GDF11 group:(19. 87 ± 2. 11)% vs (10. 32 ± 1. 47)%;AAV-GFP group : AAV-GDF11 group:(23. 02 ± 2. 76)%vs (9.06±1.63)%, P<0. 05]. There were less macrophages and T lymphocytes infiltration in plaques and lower mRNA expressions of inflammatory factors at aortic wall. Conclusion GDF11 reduces the area of atherosclerotic lesion in ApoE-/-mice, which may be involved in endothelial protection, such as to reduce inflammatory reaction, and to change cellular composition in plaques.

Objective: To explore the effect of irisin on atherosclerosis with possible mechanisms in diabetes mellitus (DM) mice. Methods: A total of 30 ApoE-/- mice were randomly divided into 2 groups: Control group, the mice received citrate buffer solution for modeling control,n=10. DM group, the mice received streptozotocin injection for DM modeling,n=20; the DM group was further divided into 2 subgroups as DM control (DM-C) group, the mice received normal saline injection for 12 weeks and DM + irisin group, the diabetic mice received irisin injection for 12 weeks.n=10 in each subgroup. With 4 weeks of irisin intervention, the endothelium-dependent vasodilatation was detected. With 12 weeks of intervention, the blood levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) were examined by ELISA, the plaque areas in aortic en face and cross sections were measured by Oil red O or HE staining, the macrophages/T lymphocytes inifltration in plaques were detected with immunohistochemistry, and the mRNA expressions of IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α were determined by RT-PCR. Results: Compared with DM-C group, DM + irisin group presented improved endothelium-dependent vasodilatation, decreased levels of blood inlfammatory factors, reduced plaque on face area sections (22.57 ± 2.17) % vs (35.09 ± 2.38) % and cross sections (19.36 ± 1.85) % vs (25.53 ± 7.87) %,P < 0.05, less macrophages (30.5 ± 2.79) % vs (41.34 ± 9.13) % T and lymphocytes infiltration (28.11 ± 4.24) % vs (35.79 ± 9.11) % in plaques and lower mRNA expressions of inflammatory factors(IL-6: 1.76 ± 0.50 vs 3.78 ± 1.15; TNF-α: 1.05 ± 0.30 vs 2.11 ± 0.48; ICAM-1: 1.96 ± 0.69 vs 2.71 ± 0.72; VCAM-1: 0.87 ± 0.21vs 1.45±0.25; MCP-1: 1.34 ± 0.34 vs 1.77 ± 0.55) at aortic wall, P<0.05.Conclusion: Irisin may improve atherosclerosis condition in ApoE-/- DM mice, the endothelial protection and antiinflammatoryreaction were the important mechanisms. Irisin has the potential for preventing/treating atherosclerosis.

Humanumbilicalveinendothelialcells(HUVECs)weretreatedwith3nmol/Lliraglutidefor10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, and 270 minutes at the concentrations of 5. 5 or 30 mmol/L glucose. Western blot analysis was used to detected protein expression and phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrates-1 ( IRS-1 ) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase ( eNOS ) . The results showed that the baseline level of phosphorylated-eNOS/eNOS was lower in high glucose group than that in normal group(0. 239 ± 0. 016 vs 0. 400 ± 0. 02,P<0. 05). Liraglutide time-dependently increased phosphorylated-eNOS/eNOS and phosphorylated-IRS-1/IRS-1 levels at 5. 5 or 30 mmol/L glucose.

To study the pharmacokinetics characteristic of loganin, ferulic acid and stilbene glucoside in rat plasma after oral administration of Bushen Tongluo formula. The plasma samples were treated by using liquid-liquid extraction technique, the concentrations were determined by HPLC-UV. Johnson spherigel C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm) was adopted and eluted with the of mobile phase of methanol-water containing 0.01% glacial acetic acid in a gradient mode, with the flow rate at 1.0 mL x min(-1), column temperature at 30 degrees C and injection volume of 10 μL. According to the findings, loganin was determined at 235 nm, ferulic acid and stilbene glucoside were determined at 320 nm, with the sample size of 10 μL. The pharmacokinetic parameters of loganin, ferulic acid and stilbene glucoside were calculated by DAS 2. 0 software as follows: C(max) was (0.369 ± 0.042), (0.387 ± 0.071), (0.233 ± 0.044) mg x L(-1); t(max) was (0.226 ± 0.022), (0.282 ± 0.031), (0.233 ± 0.044) h; t(½β) was (6.89 ± 0.20), (10.73 ± 0.11), (6.93 ± 0.09) h; AUC(0-∞) was (1.91 ± 0.36), (3.22 ± 0.52), (1.52 ± 0.33) mg x h x L(-1); AUCO(0-t) was (1.62 ± 0.33), (2.58 ± 0.43), (1.30 ± 0.30) mg x h x L(-1); CL was (20.2 ± 4.0), (1.39 ± 0.23), (31.7 ± 6.9) L x h(-1) x kg(-1), respectively. The results showed that after the oral administration with Bushen Tongluo formula, loganin, ferulic acid and stilbene glucoside showed concentration-time curves in conformity with the two compartment model, with a rapid absorption, loganin and stilbene glucoside was excreted at a moderate speed, and ferulic acid was excreted slowly (but with the highest bioavailability). Bushen Tongluo formula can main maintain plasma concentration with three administrations everyday and so is suitable to be made into common oral preparation.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Biological Availability ; Coumaric Acids ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; pharmacokinetics ; Glucosides ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Iridoids ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stilbenes ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of auricular point sticking at different points to relieve the pain in arteriovenous fistula puncture. Methods: A total of 42 patients with arteriovenous fistula were randomized into a Shenmen (TF4) group and an Elbow (SF3) group by the random number table method, with 21 cases in each group. After enrolled into different groups, before the dialysis, patients were given auricular point sticking with Wang Bu Liu Xing ( Semen Vaccariae) seeds at Shenmen (TF4) and Elbow (SF3), respectively. Patients were asked to press the seeds themselves for 2 min each time, four times a day, and an additional 5-15 min before the arteriovenous fistula puncture. Intensive pressing was offered during the puncture, 15-20 presses for each time, and the plasters were changed every 2-3 d. The numerical rating scale (NRS) was used to score the pain level one week before and after auricular point sticking. The NRS score was then compared and analyzed. Results: The intra-group comparison showed that the changes of NRS score in both groups were statistically significant after auricular point sticking (both P＜0.05). After the treatment, there was no significant difference in NRS score between the two groups (P＞0.05). Conclusion: Auricular point sticking at Shenmen (TF4) or Elbow (SF3) can effectively relieve the pain of arteriovenous fistula puncture, and these two points have equivalent analgesic effect.

Objective To study the effects of iodine deficiency during pregnancy on fetal iodine metabolism and thyroid function. Methods Wistar dams were randomly divided into four groups: severe iodine deficiency(SID), moderate iodine deficiency(MoID), mild iodine deficiency(MiID) and normal iodine(NI). All the dams were fed with iodine deficient food(iodine contents: 50 μg/kg) and drinking water with different doses of KI (0,54.9,163.8,381.7 μg/L) for 3 months till mating. Iodine was supplied at the dose of 1.24 μg/d(SID), 2.50 μg/d(MoID), 5.00 μg/d(MiID) and 10.00 μg/d(NI), respectively. The dams and their fetuses on gestation of 20 days were studied. Urine iodine of dams and iodine contents in fetal amniotic fluid were measured by As3+-Ce4+catalytic spectrophotometry using ammonium persulfate digestion. And blood iodine in pregnant rats and iodine contents in placental tissue were measured by As3+-Ce4+catalytic spectrophotometry in dry ash of samples in KClO3-ZnSO4-K2CO3-NaCl. Thyroid hormone levels in mother serum and in fetal amniotic fluid were detected by chemiluminascent assay, and their thyroid glands were weighted and carefully observed. Results ①Iodine content in urine and blood of pregnant rats and amniotic fluid of fetal rats reduced along with their decrease of iodine supply. Urine iodine median of rats in 4 groups(NI: 353.7 μg/L; MiID: 115.9 μg/L; MoID: 26.9 μg/L; SID: 0 μg/L) were statistically significant(χ2=32.884, P < 0.01). Blood iodine level in MoID and SID[(29.4±18.6), (11.7± 7.0)μg/L]was significantly lower than that in NI[(49.1±23.0)μg/L, P < 0.05 or < 0.01]. In iodine deficiency groups, there was a decreasing trend in iodine contents of fetal amniotic fluid[MiID: (48.3±23.1)μg/L; MoID: (29.2±14.7)μ/L; SID:(19.5±6.7)μg/L]and an increasing tendency in iodine contents of placental tissue [MiID: (0.57±0.26)μg/g, MoID: (0.53±0.34)μg/g; SID: (0.53±0.15)μg/g], but there was no statistical significance(P>0.05). ②In SID, TT4[(14.3±4.1)nmol/L]and FT4[(10.8±3.6)pmol/L]were lower than that in NI[(28.4±19.3)nmol/L, (20.2±8.0)pmol/L, P < 0.05 or < 0.01], while that in MoID[(22.1±6.1)nmol/L, (18.5±4.1)pmol/L]and MiID[(25.5±13.1)nmol/L, (18.6±8.4)pmol/L]were decreased without statistical significance(P > 0.05). And FT3/FT4 ratio(0.34±0.16), absolute[(48.4±22.7)mg]and relative weights[(144± 76)mg/kg]of thyroid gland in pregnant rats were respectively higher than that in NI[0.16±0.02, (19.5±3.1)mg, (66±10)mg/kg, P<0.01]. But that in MoID[0.19±0.04, (27.0±5.7)mg, (84±19)mg/kg]and MiID[0.17± 0.06, (25.0±8.9)mg, (78±25)mg/kg]were increased without statistical significance(P > 0.05). A visibly congestive enlargement thyroid was found in SID, while thyroid mildly enlarged in MoID and MiID. ③Compared with NI [(2.38±1.55)pmol/L,0.50±0.18], the FT4 levels [(1.07±0.87) pmol/L]in amniotic fluid were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) and the FT3/FT4 ratio (1.96±0.61) was significantly increased (P < 0.01) in SID. There were no statistical significances(P > 0.05) in other 3 groups[MiID: (2.77±0.90)pmol/L,0.46±0.15; MoID: (2.35±0.76)pmoL/L,0.61±0.21]. A visible thyroid enlargement with hyperemia was observed in SID fetus while in other 2 experiment groups their thyroids were only mildly congested. Conclusions Severe iodine deficiency during pregnancy can result in both mother and fetus overt hypothyroidism. The fetal thyroid hormone levels in mild iodine deficiency status is close to normal levels because of maternal and placental compensation. Moreover, both the dam and the fetus suffer from the negative effects in moderate iodine deficiency during pregnancy.