Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Elliptocytosis, Hereditary ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male

Objective To design an experiment for method-comparison and bias estimation of multi tests on multi instruments.Methods According to the procedure described by the NCCLS approved guideline EP9-A and improving the method of sample collection,we took 8 patient mixing samples each day to analyze all comparison tests on 11 auto-chemistry analyzer within following 5 days.The duplicates were assessed within the same run.The coefficient of correlation and average bias% were calculated,and the system errors at medical decided levels were assessed.Results Taking ALT as an example,the coefficients of correlation were between 0.994-1.000,and the average bias% were between-0.460%-4.927%,SE at 40U/L was-1.510-1.834 and SE at 300 U/L was-3.101-9.188.Conclusion In all tests that joined the comparison among the different instruments,28 tests were acceptable,2 tests were acceptable after modifying the coefficients,and AMY and LIP were not acceptable.

Objective:To investigate the incidence and risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in extremely preterm infants (EPI) before 28 weeks of gestation during 8-years period.Methods:A retrospective study. From January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2018, 300 EPI infants with a gestational age of less than 28 weeks admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology Obstetrics were included in the study. EPI birth gestational week (GA), birth weight (BW), gender and other basic information, as well as neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, oxygen (&ge;10 d), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and other hospitalizations and complications were recorded. According to ROP international classification standards, ROP was staged. Severe ROP was defined as ROP that requires treatment. The screening start time, screening interval, and intervention time of all children tested were carried out in accordance with the requirements of the "Guidelines for Screening Retinopathy of Prematurity" until the end of follow-up. The most severe ROP during the follow-up of each examined child was recorded as the final screening result of the examined child, and those with asymmetric eyes with the screening results of the severe side of the diseas was recorded. A retrospective analysis of the overall incidence of EPI ROP showed the incidence of severe ROP, and the first and second stages of EPI ROP during the 8 years (from January 1 , 2011 to December 31, 2014, and January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2018), changes in the rate of severe illness. Logistic regression analysis was used to screen independent risk factors for severe ROP.Results:Among 300 EPI infants, the average GA was (26.7±1.8) weeks; the average BW was (993.3±178.7) g. Two hundred and five infants (68.3%) were diagnosed with ROP, 116 (56.6%), 57 (27.8%), and 32 (15.6%) infants of stage Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ disease, respectively. There were no infants of stage IV and V. There were 30 infants (14.6%) with additional lesions and 59 infants (19.7%) with severe ROP requiring treatment. With the increase of GA ( χ2=52.391, 44.521; P=0.000, 0.000) and BW ( χ2=43.772, 26.138; P=0.000, 0.000), the incidence of EPI ROP and the incidence of severe ROP decreased significantly. From 2011 to 2018, the number of people surviving EPI obviously increased, especially those with small GA (26 weeks) and low BW (750 g). The average GA of the second stage EPI was lower than that of the first stage, the difference was statistically significant ( t=2.243, P=0.026); the average BW of the second stage EPI was lower than the first stage, the difference was not statistically significant ( t=1.428, P=0.154). The incidence of ROP in the second stage EPI was slightly higher than that in the first stage, and the incidence of severe ROP was lower than that in the first stage, the difference was not statistically significant ( χ2=1.069, 1.723; P=0.301, 0.189). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that GA<27 weeks ( β=-2.584, P=0.032), maternal chorioamnionitis (CA) ( β=-0.935, P=0.038) and BPD ( β=-1.432, P=0.001) was an independent risk factor for severe ROP. Conclusions:The incidence of EPI ROP and severe ROP are 68.3% and 19.7%, respectively. From 2011 to 2018, the number of survivors of EPI obviously increase, and those with small GA and low BW increase significantly; however, the incidence of ROP and severe ROP remaine stable. GA, CA and BPD are independent risk factors for severe ROP.

OBJECTIVETo observe the evolutionary tendency of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) of the limbic system in post-stroke model rats and the intervention effect of Yinao Jieyu Recipe (YJR).

METHODSMale Wistar rats were randomly divided into the normal control group (n =6), the sham-operation group (n =7), the multiple cerebral infarction (MCI) group (n =10), the post-stroke depression (PSD) group (n =10), the Chinese medicine (CM) treatment group (n =10), and the Western medicine (WM) treatment group (n =10) according to random digit table after open-field testing. Rats in the normal control group were routinely fed. 0. 3 mL normal saline was intravenously pushing from the external carotid artery to rats in the sham-operation group, and distilled water administered to them by gastrogavage. Each dose allogenic microthrombi were in vitro pushed to rats in the rest groups from the external carotid artery. The PSD model was duplicated by 21-day chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and single cage feeding in the PSD group 7 days after surgery. After preparing models rats in the CM group and the WM group were administered with YJR and Nimodipine respectively for 4 successive weeks. Changes of BDNF and the intervention effect of YJR were observed at week 1, 2, and 4 after intervention.

RESULTSImmunohistochemical results of BDNF showed, compared with the normal control group, expression levels of BDNF in the hippocampus, hypothalamus, and amygdala decreased in the MCI group at week 2 and 4 (P <0. 01 , P <0. 05) ; expression levels of BDNF in each part decreased in the PSD group at week 1-4 (P <0.01). Compared with the MCI group, expression levels of BDNF in each part decreased in the PSD group at week 1-4 (P <0. 01). Compared with the PSD group, expression levels of BDNF in each part increased in the CM group at week 1-4 (P <0. 01).

CONCLUSIONBDNF changes existed in post-stroke model rats, and YJR could slow down this progress.

Amygdala ; Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; metabolism ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hippocampus ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Stroke ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo explore effects and possible mechanisms of curcumin on hypoxia induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2.

METHODSHepG2 cells were divided to 3 groups, i.e., the normal control group, the CoCl2 group, and the CoCl2 plus 10 micromol/L curcumin group. The proliferation of HepG2 was determined using MTT assay. The migration of HepG2 was detected by wound healing assay.The mRNA expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1alpha) was evaluated with real-time RT-PCR. The protein expressions of HIF-1alpha, epithelial-cadherin (E-cadherin), and vimentin were determined using Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the proliferation and migration of HepG2 cells under CoCl2-induced hypoxia significantly increased, the expression of HIF-1alpha was up-regulated, and the expression of E-cadherin protein was obviously down-regulated, and the expression of vimentin significantly increased (all P < 0.05). Intervention by curcumin significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of hypoxic HepG2 cells, and expressions of HIF-1alpha and vimentin decreased, and the expression of E-cadherin was up-regulated, showing statistical difference when compared with those of the CoCl2 group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in HIF-1alpha mRNA expression among the 3 groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCurcumin could reverse the proliferation and migration of HepG2 cells under CoCl2-induced hypoxia condition, which might be associated with inhibiting up-regulated expressions of HIF-1alpha protein and EMT.

Cadherins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Hypoxia ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Objective:To analyze the disaster vulnerability of hospitals in Macao Special Administrative Region to assess the disaster risk objectively, so as to provide reference for Macao hospitals to formulate their emergency plans and improve their emergency response and handling capacity.Methods:From December 2021 to February 2022, 118 medical staff were selected for a questionnaire survey using the method of departmental stratified random sampling from three general hospitals in Macao. At the same time, 7 full-time medical staff and 2 experts in the field of health care were selected for expert consultation. The main content of the questionnaire was the hospital disaster risk assessment based on the Kaiser model, and three-round expert consultation method was used to determine the model indicators. The risk value of each indicator was calculated to analyze the hospital disaster vulnerability.Results:107 valid questionnaires were collected. The top five events in the hospital disaster risk value were typhoon(52.42%), large-scale public health events/epidemic outbreaks(47.55%), strong thunderstorm convective weather(38.68%), extreme temperature(37.31%) and information system failure(33.75%). As ranked by the total risk value, the categories of hospital disasters were natural disasters(35.69%), information security(29.49%), medical technology accidents(29.36%), equipment technology accidents(26.25%), dangerous goods injuries(25.13%) and personnel injuries(19.98%).Conclusions:Macao hospitals are exposed to the highest total risk value in natural disasters, followed by information security. In addition, the risk value of large-scale public health events and epidemic outbreaks of personal injury is also so high as to deserve attention. Macao hospitals should formulate effective emergency response plans according to the risk values of various disasters and the actual situation of each medical department, so as to minimize the losses caused by disasters to both hospitals and patients.

BACKGROUND: Alendronate sodium is a commonly used western medicine for the treatment of osteoporosis, but it has many adverse reactions.The main component of the traditional Chinese medicine,known as the Bushen Tiaochong recipe,is Epimedium brevicornu Maxim. (epimedium).Pharmacological studies have shown that the main active ingredient of Epimedium is icariin.Icariin has an estrogen-like effect, can prevent against bone loss and improve bone strength, and has a definite effect on the treatment of postmenopausal senile degenerative osteoporosis. OBJECTIVE:To testify the hypothesis that the Bushen Tiaochong recipe combined with alendronate sodium will be more effective,as well as safer and more reliable than alendronate sodium alone for the treatment of postmenopausal senile degenerative osteoporosis. METHODS: Two hundred patients with postmenopausal senile degenerative osteoporosis will be randomly assigned to an observation group and a control group. In the control group, patients will be given alendronate sodium tablets 10 mg/d and calcium carbonate D3 chewable tablets 0.6 g/d.In the observation group,patients will receive the same treatment as the control group and the Bushen Tiaochong recipe,simmering,twice per day(once in the morning and once in the evening).The duration of treatment will be 6 months in both groups. The primary outcome measure is the overall efficacy 6 months after treatment in both groups. The secondary outcome measures are Visual Analogue Scale scores for waist and back pain; lumbar spine (L2–4) bone mineral density; serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, estradiol, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, interleukin-1, and interleukin-6 before and 6 months after treatment; and incidence of adverse reactions 6 months after treatment. This trial has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University of China (approval number: QHY1703F). The study protocol will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki,formulated by the World Medical Association.Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The recruitment of subjects will begin in January 2018. Samples and data will be collected from January to December 2018. Outcome measures will be analyzed in March 2019. This trial will be completed in April 2019. The results of the trial will be reported in a scientific conference or disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal. This trial was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registration number: ChiCTR-ONC-17013947). DISCUSSION: We hope to verify that the Bushen Tiaochong recipe combined with alendronate sodium provides better results than alendronate sodium alone for the treatment of postmenopausal senile degenerative osteoporosis.

BACKGROUNDThe cholesterol-lowering statin drugs have some non-lipid-lowering effects, such as inhibiting myocardial remodeling. However, the underlying mechanism is still unclear.

METHODSThe left anterior descending coronary artery was ligated to establish a rat model of heart failure, and the rats were divided into a sham operation (SO) group, myocardial infarction model (MI) group, and MI-atorvastatin group. Changes in hemodynamic parameters were recorded after the final drug administration. Histological diagnosis was made by reviewing hematoxylin and eosin (HE) stained tissue. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to determine the expressions of type I and type III collagen, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and tissue matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor-2 (TIMP-2). Further, primary rat cardiac fibroblasts were cultured and the MTT assay was performed to determine the effect of atorvastatin on cardiac fibroblast proliferation.

RESULTSThe model of heart failure was established and the results of HE staining and Masson's trichrome staining revealed that the rats in the heart failure group showed obvious hyperplasia of fibrotic tissue, which was significantly reduced in the atorvastatin group. Real-time quantitative PCR showed that the MI group showed a significantly increased expression of type I and type III collagen, MMP-2, and TIMP-2, but a significantly reduced MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio. Compared with the MI group, the atorvastatin group showed significantly reduced expression of type I and III collagen, unchanged expression of MMP-2, significantly reduced expression of TIMP-2, and an increased MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio. We further found that atorvastatin significantly inhibited the Ang II-induced fibroblast proliferation and the expression of type I and type III collagen in cardiac fibroblasts while increasing the MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio.

CONCLUSIONSThese data suggest that atorvastatin can inhibit cardiac fibroblast proliferation and enhance collagen degradation by increasing the MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio, thereby inhibiting the formation of myocardial fibrosis in rats with heart failure after myocardial infarction.

Animals ; Atorvastatin Calcium ; Collagen ; biosynthesis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Heptanoic Acids ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; genetics ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Pyrroles ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 ; genetics ; Ventricular Remodeling ; drug effects

AIMTo study the dissolution rate of solid pharmaceutical preparation on-line, a multiple channel fiber-optic chemical sensor based on fluorescence multiple quenching (FOCSMQ) without filtering and sampling was made.

METHODSUsing the multiple channel FOCSMQ linked with computer, the dissolution rates of ofloxacin tablets, metronidazole tablets and nitrofurantoin tablets were monitored continuously on-line. The instrument can give the sample data, display the real time curve and calculate the T1/2 and td automatically. A computer was used to select the best function from five common fitting models to fit the dissolution curve.

RESULTSThe average recoveries of the FOCSMQ method were 97.4%-104.4%, 97.4%-103.8% and 96.6%-102.1%. The RSDs (n = 6) of within-day and between-day were less than 5%. The parameters of the dissolution and all results of measurement using the instrument have no significant difference compared with the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (ChP) (2000) method and the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) (23) method (P > 0.05). It does not need sampling and dilution, and never contaminate sample. It can shorten time of the experiment.

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple, rapid and reliable.

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; instrumentation ; Fiber Optic Technology ; methods ; Metronidazole ; chemistry ; Nitrofurantoin ; chemistry ; Ofloxacin ; chemistry ; Optical Fibers ; Solubility ; Tablets ; chemistry ; Transducers

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of integrin α4β7 in the development of ulcerative colitis (UC) in rats.

METHODSSixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group (acetone enema), the model group (2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene, DNCB enema), and the α4 intervention group. Colonic mucosa of different groups was observed and compared in terms of pathology and cytokine changes(IL-2 and IL-6) using ELISA. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect the colon α4β7 expression. Integrin α4β7(+) lymphocytes in the portal vein of rats were determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe expression of α4 mRNA was 0.68±0.24 in the model group and 0.58±0.37 in the intervention group, and the expression of β7 mRNA was 0.84±0.37 in the model group and 0.65±0.30 in the intervention group, which were all significantly higher as compared to those in the control group(0.15±0.13 for α4 and 0.24±0.62 for β7, P<0.01). The proportions of integrin α4β7 positive lymphocytes in the portal vein in the model group and intervention group were significantly higher than that in the control group [(76.7±8.2)% and (68.2±7.6)% vs. (14.7±6.7)%, P<0.01]. The expression of IL-2 and IL-6 and the result of macroscopic and microscopic scores in the intervention group were lower than those in the model group(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHigh expression of α4β7 may play an important role in experimental colon mucosa inflammation in rats with ulcerative colitis. The blockade of integrin α4β7 may be a potential target to reduce colonic mucosa inflammation.

Animals ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; metabolism ; pathology ; Colon ; metabolism ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Integrins ; metabolism ; physiology ; Interleukin-2 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa ; pathology ; Rats