Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the world’s major chronic and disabling mental diseases. By 2030, MDD is expected to be the top of all the disease burden in the world, with high prevalence, high recurrence rate, high disability rate, and high suicide rate. Suicide is the most serious consequence of MDD. Current studies showed that inflammatory levels in the central nervous system and peripheral blood of patients with MDD were higher, and increased more significantly in depressive patients with suicidal ideation or behavior. Related researches showed that increased levels of inflammatory cytokines were associated with dysregulation of kynurenine metabolic pathway, leading to imbalances in neurometabolites, such as an excess of the neurotoxic product quinolinic acid and a decrease in the protective neuropeptide picolinic acid. This paper reviews kynurenine metabolic pathway, expecting to identify the biomarkers of MDD patients with suicide.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the dentoalveolar characteristics in skeletal class I patients with excessive overjet.

METHODSTen cephalometric measurements of 60 skeletal class I patients with excessive overjet were analyzed.

RESULTSCompared with patients with normal overjet, 1-SN, 1-NA and MxAAH were significantly increased in excessive overjet group I (overjet: 3 - 5 mm) and 1-SN, 1-NA and MxAAH were significantly increased in excessive overjet group II (overjet: 5 - 7 mm).

CONCLUSIONSThe protrusion and tipping of maxillary incisor, and absence of compensatory proclination of mandibular incisor may be the factors, caused skeletal class I excessive overjet. Increased height of anterior maxillary anterior alveolar process was the compensatory change in skeletal class I patients with excessive overjet.

Adolescent ; Alveolar Process ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Cephalometry ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Incisor ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Male ; Malocclusion, Angle Class I ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Radiography

OBJECTIVETo observe the relation of androgen levels and atherosclerosis (AS) in elderly males.

METHODSBoth carotid arteries and arteries of lower extremity were examined with Doppler ultrasonography. Those with arteriosclerosis and much atheromatous plaque were designated as case group, and those with normal results formed control group. Total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT) and estradiol (E2) were measure by radioimmunoassay, HDL-C, LDL-C, TC and TG were assayed by colorimetry, vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM-1) were determined by ELISA.

RESULTFT was significantly lower in case group than in control group (P<0.01), no differences were found in TT, E2. HDL-C in control group was higher than that in case group (P<0.01), TC and TG were higher in case group than those in control group (P<0.05). HDL-C was correlated positively and LDL-C was negatively with FT level, while both TC and TG in case group had negative relation with FT. VEGF was higher in case group (P<0.05), and it had negative relation with FT in both groups. TNF-alpha and IL-6 were significantly higher in case group (P<0.05), and they had negative relation with FT. sICAM-1 was significantly lower in control group than it in case group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe normal androgen levels, especially FT, have beneficial effect in AS development in elderly males. Low FT level may be an independent risk factor in AS development.

Aged ; Androgens ; blood ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; diagnostic imaging ; Carotid Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Testosterone ; blood ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of long-term application of Shengmai Capsule (SMC) on recovery of patients after myocardial infarction.

METHODSA total of 120 myocardial infarction patients were: assigned into two groups. Changes of angina pectoris, electrocardiogram (ECG), living capacity and heart function in patients were observed after 6-month treatment.

RESULTSThe total effective rate in alleviating angina: pectoris was 90.0% and that in improving ECG figure was 93.3% in the treatment group, both were significantly higher than those in the control group, 73.4% and 70.0% respectively (P<0.05). The Karnofsky Performance Status scores of heart function were increased and the Activity of Daily Living scores in living capacity decreased in both groups, but the improvements were better in the treatment group (P<0.01 and P<0.05). The parameters of cardiac function, including cardiac output, stroke volume, cardiac index and ejection fraction, were increased in both groups, but the increments in the treatment group were more significant (P<0.01 or P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONLong-term application of SMC could effectively prevent and treat angina pectoris, improve the living capacity and accelerate the recovery of heart function in patients after myocardial infarction.

Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Karnofsky Performance Status ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Myocardial Infarction ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Quality of Life

OBJECTIVETo explore the activities of Composite Artemisia Capillaris Tablet (CACT) against hepatitis B virus replication in vitro.

METHODSBy means of radioimmunoassay (RIA), Dot blot and Southern blot, the surface and e antigen production of 2.2.15 cells, HBV DNA in 2.2.15 cell culture medium and that in 2.2.15 cells were examined respectively.

RESULTSHBsAg, HBeAg values of 2.2.15 cells treated by CACT were lower than those of the control, the HBV DNA quantities in culture medium and in 2.2.15 cells decreased as compared with those cells with no treatment by CACT given to them.

CONCLUSIONCACT could inhibit HBV DNA replication, showing its potential antiviral activity in hepatitis B treatment.

Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA, Viral ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; immunology ; physiology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plant Preparations ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Radioimmunoassay ; Tablets ; Virus Replication ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo compare plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, and cystatin C levels in patients with or without coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODSWe recruited 87 CAD patients (39 with acute myocardial infarction and 48 with unstable angina pectoris) and 51 non-CAD controls. Plasma ADMA was measured by HPLC, cystatin C by particle-enhanced immunonephelometric assay (N Latex cystatin C, Dade Behring) with nephelometer (BNII, Dade Behring). CAD patients were further divided into low cystatin C group (< 1.0 mg/L, 36 cases) and high cystatin C group (> 1.0 mg/L, 51 cases).

RESULTS(1) The plasma levels of ADMA [(0.47 ± 0.15) µmol/L vs. (0.37 ± 0.15) µmol/L], SDMA [(0.39 ± 0.19) µmol/L vs. (0.28 ± 0.12) µmol/L] and cystatin C [(1.16 ± 0.32) mg/L vs. (0.73 ± 0.16) mg/L] were significantly higher in CAD patients than in controls (all P < 0.05). The plasma L-Arg was significantly lower in CAD patients than in controls [(59.4 ± 19.4) µmol/L vs. (83.7 ± 19.6) µmol/L, P < 0.05]. (2) Plasma ADMA was similar in CAD patients with low cystatin C level and controls [(0.42 ± 0.12) µmol/L vs. (0.39 ± 0.15) µmol/L, P = 0.251] and Plasma ADMA was significantly higher in CAD patients with high cystatin C level than in controls [(0.50 ± 0.17) µmol/L vs. (0.39 ± 0.15) µmol/L, P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONADMA levels were significantly increased only in CAD patients with elevated cystatin C levels but not in CAD patients with normal renal function. The reported relationship between coronary heart disease and ADMA may not be direct, but could be secondary due to reduced renal function.

Aged ; Arginine ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; Cystatin C ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo discuss the urine biomarkers in 1,3-butadiene exposed workers, and to provide basement for establishing biological limit value.

METHODS44 BD exposed workers as exposure group and 25 BD non-exposed people as control group including 12 workers in boiler workshop in the same factory and 13 people in one public institute, we collected their in-end-of shift urine, then detected urine BD-derived mercapturic metabolites [3,4-dihydroxybutyl mercapturic acid (DHBMA),1- and 2-monohydroxy-3-butenyl mercapturic acid (MHBMA)] concentrations using UPLC-MS/MS method. Meanwhile, we detected air BD concentration with GC-FID in the workplace, and compared their relationship.

RESULTSlgDHBMA and lg (MHBMA + DHBMA) levels in exposed group (lgDHBMA: 2.51 ± 0.44) µg/L, lg [MHBMA + DHBMA: (2.68 ± 0.27) µg/L] were higher than which in control group (lgDHBMA: (2.20 ± 0.25) µg/L, lg(MHBMA + DHBMA: (2.49 ± 0.34) µg/L), and the differences were significant (P < 0.01). Urine DHBMA was obviously influenced by air BD concentrations (r = 0.539, P = 0.001). The equation of Multiple Regression Analysis was y = 2.417 + 0.520x (x represents air BD dose, and represents urinary DHBMA level). Adjusted R(2) of this model was 0.262. Urinary MHBMA was not affected by smoking, alcohol and years of works.

CONCLUSIONUrine metabolite DHBMA in BD-exposed workers might be major biological exposure indice.

Adult ; Biomarkers ; urine ; Butadienes ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo investigate the intervention effect of aqueous fractions from Boschniakia rossica (BRAF) on hepatic oxidative stress in mice with liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4).

METHODThe experimental mice were randomly assigned into the normal control group, the model group, the silymarin (positive control) group, as well as high and low dose BRAF groups. Mice were treated intragastrically with silymarin or BRAF once every day for 7 days. At the end of the experiment, CCl4 was injected intraperitoneally into the mice to establish the acute liver injury model. The pathological changes was detected with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), superoxide dismutase (SOD) , catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), Na+ -K+ -ATPase, Ca2+ -Mg2+ -ATPase, and the contents of reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected by the colorimetric method.

RESULTBRAF significantly reduced ALT, AST and ALP activities in serum, alleviated hepatic injury induced by CCl4, increased SOD, CAT, GPx and GSH levels in liver, and SOD, Na + -K + -ATPase and Ca2+ -Mg2 + -ATPase activities in liver mitochondria, and decreased the MDA content in liver and liver mitochondria.

CONCLUSIONBRAF reduces hepatic oxidative stress in mice with acute liver injury induced by CCl4, thereby showing the protective effect on mice with acute liver injury induced by CCl4.

Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; toxicity ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; enzymology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Orobanchaceae ; chemistry ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Solubility ; Water ; chemistry

Human Interleukin-11(hIL-11)has no Cys residue in its natural form.By site-directed mutagenesis,a Cys residue can be introduced to replace the 1st residue Gly and the rhIL-11 was chemically modified by using 20 kDa mPEG-maleimide conjugated to this site.The mPEG-hIL-11 conjugate was purified and showed a single band on SDS-PAGE with an apparent molecular weight.The biological activity of purified mPEG-hIL-11 was determined using a dependent cell line 7TD1.The remaining biological activity of PEGylated-rhIL-11 was 30% of native rhIL-11,suggesting chemical modification of rhIL-11 by PEG is a promising approach for improving the pharmacological efficacy.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of apatinib combined with chemotherapy in the first-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with negative driving genes. Methods: From January 2016 to March 2018, 62 advanced NSCLC patients with negative driving genes diagnosed at Xuzhou Cancer Hospital were randomly divided into study group (30 cases) and control group (32 cases), respectively. The patients in the study group were treated with standard first-line chemotherapy combined with apatinib, while those in control group were treated with chemotherapy alone. Results: The disease control rate (DCR) and objective remission rate (ORR) in the study group were 60.0% and 16.7%, respectively, higher than 46.9% and 9.3% in the control group, but without statistical difference (P>0.05). The median progression-free survival (PFS) of study group and control group were 6.4 months and 4.9 months, respectively (P=0.004), and the median overall survival (OS) were 11.3 months and 9.2 months, respectively (P=0.006). Multivariate survival analysis indicated that treatment regimen (P=0.001) was the independent prognostic factor of PFS, and PS score (P=0.002), clinical stage (P=0.02) and treatment regimen (P<0.001) were the independent prognostic factors of OS. After treatment, the incidence of hypertension and hand-foot syndrome in the study group were 46.7% and 53.3%, respectively, significantly higher than 3.3% and 0 in the control group, respectively (P<0.05). The incidence of grade 3-4 adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in the study group was 26.7% (8/30), mainly including hypertension, hand-foot syndrome and bone marrow suppression. The incidence of grade 3-4 ADRs in the control group was 15.6% (5/32), all of which were bone marrow suppression, without significant difference (P=0.286). There was no difference in serum levels of VEGF and CEA between the two groups before treatment. After treatment, the serum level of VEGF in the study group was (169.3±10.1) pg/ml, lower than (211.8±16.7) pg/ml of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Apatinib combined with first-line chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC patients with negative driving genes is safe and beneficial for survival. This therapeutic strategy can significantly prolong the PFS and OS, and further improvement and application can be considered as a choice in the clinical treatment.