Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination of Weimaining capsule and XELOX regimen (oxaliplatin plus capecitabine) in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer patients.Methods A total of 62 patients with advanced gastric cancer who fulfilled all predetermined criteria were randomly divided into observation group and control group.The 31 patients in observation group received a combination of Weimaining capsule and XELOX regimen,the 31 patients in control group received only XELOX regimen at the same dose intensity.Each patient received at least two cycles (1 cycle =21 days) of treatment,the efficacy was assessed after two cycles.Results The median time-to-progression (TTP) of observation and control groups were 5.5 and 4.8 months,respectively.The difference had no statistical significance (P =0.238).The disease control rates (DCR) of observation group was significantly improved compared with control group [67.7 ％ (21/31) vs 41.9 ％ (13/21),P ＜ 0.05],the difference was statistically significant,while the objective response rate (ORR) of the 2 groups had no statistical difference [(32.3 ％ (10/31) vs 25.8 ％ (8/31),P ＞ 0.05].In drug safety aspects,there was no Ⅴ grade adverse reactions (deaths caused by drug) among all the patients.Rates of grades Ⅱ-Ⅳ neutrocytopenia and nausea,vomiting in observation group were obviously lower than control group [16.13 ％ (5/31) vs 38.71％ (12/31),P ＜ 0.05;12.90 ％ (4/31) vs 35.48 ％ (11/31),P ＜ 0.05],other adverse reactions between the 2 groups had no statistical difference.Conclusions A combination of Weimaining capsule and XELOX regimen in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer patients can improve DCR significantly and reduce part of adverse reaction induced by chemotherapy with satisfactory safety.This method is worthy of application widely.

Objective To explore the association between serum uric acid (SUA) and all-cause mortality in men. Methods In this prospective cohort study,data being used was derived from the Kailuan study cohort. A total of 81 110 male workers who had taken part in the Kailuan physical examination were enrolled. Subjects with previous myocardial infarction,stroke,cancer, eGFR<30 ml/(min·1.73 m2)accidental deaths and those ever used drugs that seemed to have showed an effect on blood uric acid,were excluded. All the information was gathered from a unified questionnaire,measured by blood biochemistry and with the mean period of follow up as(47.5±4.3) months. Based on the 2006-2007 SUA value,observed objects were divided into five groups,with multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis used to estimate the relationship between SUA and all-cause mortality in men. Results 1)At the end of the follow-up period in 2010-2011, the number of deaths were 315,278,243,292 and 341 among the different SUA quinte,with incidence rates of all-cause mortality as 2.43%,2.36%,1.96%,2.42%and 2.92%,respectively. 2)Data from the Single factor Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that,when comparing with the third quinte,HR values of the all-cause mortality were 1.32(1.11-1.56),1.19(1.00-1.41),1.20(1.01-1.43)and 1.41(1.19-1.66)in other four groups,respectively. 3)When factors were adjusted for age, systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure,body mass index,triglyceride,total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting glucose, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein,smoking history and history of drinking,education,profession, economy,etc.,results from the Multiple Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed the HR values of the all-cause mortality were 1.26(1.06-1.51),1.20(1.01-1.44),1.25(1.05-1.49),1.42 (1.19-1.68) in other four groups,respectively,comparing to the third quinte. Conclusion Using SUA as the independent risk factor of all-cause mortality,the exceptional levels of SUA were associated with an increasing risk for all-cause mortality while the association of SUA with all-cause mortality appeared an“U”shaped curve.

Objective To explore the relationship between ulcerative colitis (UC) susceptibility and tumor necrosis factor superfamily member (TNFSF) 15 gene polymorphisms and haplotypes in Han nationality in Zhejiang province of China. Methods A total of 408 UC patients and 574 healthy controls were recruited in this study. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms of TNFSF15 (rs3810936, rs4263839, rs4979462) were examined by improved multiple ligase detection reaction (iMLDR) technique. Analyses of linkage disequilibrium (LD) and haplotype were performed by Haploview 4.2 software in all study subjects. Results The variant allele A and genotype (GA+AA) of rs4263839 were less frequent in UC patients than in controls (45.34% vs. 50.17%, P=0.035; 68.38% vs. 76.66%, P=0.004). According to the severity and location of disease, UC patients were divided into different subgroups. After multiple comparison correction (α=0.012 5), the frequencies of variant allele A and genotype (GA+AA) of rs4263839 were lower in patients with severe UC than in the controls (37.69% vs. 50.17%, P=0.007;60.00% vs. 76.66%, P=0.004). Similar findings were also drawn for patients with extensive colitis in contrast with the controls (42.22% vs. 50.17%, P=0.009; 63.33% vs. 76.66%, P<0.001). Furthermore, the haplotype analysis indicated that three SNPs above were in a strong LD. The frequency of haplotype TAC was lower in UC patients than in the controls (40.83% vs. 46.04%, P=0.023). Also it was less prevalent in patients with severe UC and patients with extensive colitis when compared with controls respectively (33.38% vs. 46.04%, P=0.005;37.22% vs. 46.04%, P=0.003). Conclusions TNFSF15 (rs4263839) variation might not only reduce the risk of UC, but also affect the severity and lesion location of UC. The haplotype TAC formed by rs3810936, rs4263839 and rs4979462 might be related to a lower risk of UC, especially in patients with severe colitis or patients with extensive colitis.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between item d560 of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and the swallowing function of convalescing stroke patients.Methods:A total of 140 convalescent stroke survivors were evaluated for dysphagia using the ICF-d560 and the modified Watian drinking water test. Linear regression was used to analyze the influence of clinical factors when choosing a swallowing function assessment scale. Spearman correlation was computed to explore the correlation between ICF item d560 and the modified Watian drinking water test.Results:According to the ICF-d560 results, 10% of the patients had a mild disorder, with another 37.1% moderate, 29.3% severe and 23.6% completely dysphagic. The corresponding percentages according to the improved Watian drinking water test were 44.3% mild, 31.4% moderate and 24.3% severe. The total correlation coefficient between the two sets of results was 0.86, which was related to the stroke type, age, gender and stroke risk factors. The correlation coefficient of the cerebral infarction group was significantly higher than the cerebral hemorrhage group′s coefficient, and that of the women was slightly higher than that of the men. The strength of the correlation increased with age. The correlation coefficient was 0.84 among both diabetics and hypertension sufferers.Conclusions:Results from the ICF-d560 and the modified Wada drinking water test correlate well, which can provide a screening tool for swallowing function based on the ICF theoretical framework.

OBJECTIVETo explore the association between serum uric acid (SUA) and all-cause mortality in men.

METHODSIn this prospective cohort study, data being used was derived from the Kailuan study cohort. A total of 81 110 male workers who had taken part in the Kailuan physical examination were enrolled. Subjects with previous myocardial infarction, stroke, cancer, eGFR < 30 ml/(min × 1.73 m(2)) accidental deaths and those ever used drugs that seemed to have showed an effect on blood uric acid, were excluded. All the information was gathered from a unified questionnaire, measured by blood biochemistry and with the mean period of follow up as (47.5 ± 4.3) months. Based on the 2006-2007 SUA value, observed objects were divided into five groups, with multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis used to estimate the relationship between SUA and all-cause mortality in men.

RESULTS1) At the end of the follow-up period in 2010-2011, the number of deaths were 315, 278, 243, 292 and 341 among the different SUA quinte, with incidence rates of all-cause mortality as 2.43%, 2.36%, 1.96%, 2.42% and 2.92%, respectively. 2) Data from the Single factor Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that, when comparing with the third quinte, HR values of the all-cause mortality were 1.32 (1.11-1.56), 1.19 (1.00-1.41), 1.20 (1.01-1.43) and 1.41 (1.19-1.66) in other four groups, respectively. 3) When factors were adjusted for age, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting glucose, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, smoking history and history of drinking, education, profession, economy, etc., results from the Multiple Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed the HR values of the all-cause mortality were 1.26 (1.06-1.51), 1.20 (1.01-1.44), 1.25(1.05-1.49), 1.42 (1.19-1.68) in other four groups, respectively, comparing to the third quinte.

CONCLUSIONUsing SUA as the independent risk factor of all-cause mortality, the exceptional levels of SUA were associated with an increasing risk for all-cause mortality while the association of SUA with all-cause mortality appeared an "U" shaped curve.

Adult ; Aged ; Cause of Death ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Uric Acid ; blood

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on gastric emptying in patients undergoing selective surgery based on velocity of gastric emptying by ultrasonography.

METHODSA total of 75 patients with selective operation of subarachnoid block at lower limb in the afternoon were randomly assigned to a TEAS group, a sham group and a control group, 25 patients in each one. All the patients were provided with semi-fluid diet at 8 a.m. The TEAS group was treated with TEAS 5 min after semi-fluid diets at bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) and Neiguan (PC 6) for 30 min, with frequency of 5 Hz and intensity which was 1 mA lower than the tolerance threshold. The sham group patients were stimulated at the same acupoints with current intensity which was 1 mA lower than the sensory threshold. The control group received no treatment. On the day of operation, and ultrasonography was given at time of empty stomach (T0), immediately after the semi-fluid diets (T1), and every 30 min after diets (T2-T6), respectively, to measure the gastric content and emptying time at semire-clining position and right lateral position.

RESULTSThe volume of gastric content in the three groups at T3-T6 was significantly less than that at T1 (all<0.05). The volume of gastric content at T4-T6 at semire-clining position in the TEAS group was significantly less than that in the control group and sham group (all<0.05). The volume of gastric content at T5-T6 at right lateral position in the TEAS group was significantly less than that in the control group and sham group (all<0.05). The gastric emptying time in the TEAS group was significantly less than that in the control group and sham group (both<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe gastric emptying velocity could be evaluated by ultrasonography. TEAS could improve the velocity of gastric emptying and reduce the gastric emptying time.

Overexpression of exogenous lineage-determining factors succeeds in directly reprogramming fibroblasts to various cell types. Several studies have reported reprogramming of fibroblasts into induced cardiac progenitor cells (iCPCs). CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene activation is a potential approach for cellular reprogramming due to its high precision and multiplexing capacity. Here we show lineage reprogramming to iCPCs through a dead Cas9 (dCas9)-based transcription activation system. Targeted and robust activation of endogenous cardiac factors, including GATA4, HAND2, MEF2C and TBX5 (G, H, M and T; GHMT), can reprogram human fibroblasts toward iCPCs. The iCPCs show potentials to differentiate into cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells . Addition of MEIS1 to GHMT induces cell cycle arrest in G2/M and facilitates cardiac reprogramming. Lineage reprogramming of human fibroblasts into iCPCs provides a promising cellular resource for disease modeling, drug discovery and individualized cardiac cell therapy.