Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of a schedule of 2 cycles' high-dose dexamethasone (HD-DXM) as an initial therapy in adults immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), and compare with conventional dose prednisone therapy. Method A total of 59 newly diagnosed ITP patients were divided into 2 groups randomly. In 30 patients ( Dexamethasone group), oral HD-DXM was administered at 40 mg/d for 4 consecutive days, repeated one week later, and then failed to maintain. In the remaining 29and then gradually tapered. Results For short-term efficacy, after 1 and 2 weeks of treatment, the response rate in Dexamethasone group was significantly higher than that in Prednisone group (50. 0% vs 24. 1%, P ＜0. 01; 73.3% vs 55.2%, P ＜0. 05 ), while 3 weeks later, there was no remarkable difference between the two groups(83.3% vs 68.9%, P ＞ 0. 05 ), though the response rate in Dexamethasone group remained higher. For long-term effect, at the end of the 2nd and 3rd months of follow-up, the relapse rate in Dexamethasone group was significantly lower than that in Prednisone group(24. 0% vs 40. 0%, P ＜ 0. 05;32.0% vs 65. 0%, P ＜ 0. 01 ), while at the end of the 1st month of follow-up, there was no significant difference( 16. 0% vs 20. 0%, P ＞0.05 ). In addition, it's well tolerated and no complications such as severe infection or Cushing syndrome were complained in Dexamethasone group. Conclusion HD-DXM possesses an advantage over conventional dose prednisone therapy in efficacy and safety.

In order to develop characteristic folk medicine resources in Jiangxi, a pharmacognostical study was systematically performed for four different origin plants of Sikuaiwa, the result of study provides the microscopic features of powder and tissue of the crude drug. The research provided reference for the identification of Sikuaiwa, as well as a theoretical basis for the further development and the formulation of quality standards.
Magnoliopsida ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Medicine, Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; growth & development

Objective To investigate the importance of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance in the development of quinolone resistance in clinical isolates of gram-negative bacteria.Methods A total of 541 consecutive clinical isolates of gram-negative ba- cilli resistant or intermediate to ciprofloxacin were screened for the qnrA gene by PCR.Conjugation experiments were carried out with azide-resistant E.coli J53 as a recipient.The aac(6')-Ib-cr gene was detected.The mutations in the quinolone-resist- ance-determining region (QRDR) of the gyrA and parC genes were identified in qnrA positive strains.Results qnrA was identi- fied in 7 of the 541 strains.Among the qnrA positive strains,5 were Enterobacter cloacae.No qnrA was detected in nonfer- menters.Quinolone resistance was transferred in 4 of 7 qnrA positive strains.Transconjugants had 12-to 125-fold increases in MIC of ciprofloxacin relative to that of the recipient.Seven strains contained qnrA with a nucleotide sequence identical to that originally reported.Two transconjugants with higher ciprofloxacin MICs contained aac(6')-Ib-cr gene.Mutations occurred in the QRDR of the gyrA and parC genes in 5 PCR-positive clinical strains.Conclusions Transferable plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance associated with qnrA is highly prevalent in clinical strains of Enterobacter spp.aac(6')-Ib-cr gene and mutations in the quinolone targets may co-exist with qnrA,which may contribute to the further increase of resistance to quinolones.

Objective This objective of the study was to analyze the factors related to being recaptured and condom use among low-fee female sex workers (FSWs) to provide reference in developing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) intervention strategy. Methods Physical examination certificates were designed by Zhongshan County Center for Disease Control and Prevention to record HIV and syphilis test results for low-fee FSWs from 2013 to 2015. Low-fee FSWs were asked to show physical examination certificates in the next intervention and test. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with being captured with physical examination certificates. Generalized linear mixed model was used to analyze factors associated with condom use with clients. Results A total of 220 low-fee FSWs were recruited by using physical examination certificates and received 389 interviews from 2013 to 2015. The proportions of HIV positive and syphilis positive were 4.2% (9/213) and 30.0% (64/213) respectively among those who had HIV and syphilis test. Results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that low-fee FSWs who had been FSWs for more than 4 years (OR=2.95, 95% CI：1.35-6.45), and worked in the local county in the past 30 days (OR=11.74, 95% CI: 5.26-26.20), were more likely to be captured with physical examination certificates. Results of generalized linear mixed model showed that those who were captured at least once (OR=3.33, 95% CI: 1.34-8.27), had junior middle school education and above (OR=22.79, 95% CI: 3.75-138.57), had high HIV knowledge (OR=3.57, 95% CI: 1.52-8.38), and charged more than 30 yuan for vaginal sex (OR=30.68, 95% CI: 12.57-74.90), were more likely to use condom consistently. Conclusions Physical examination certificates could be used for low-fee FSWs surveillance and intervention and tracking their HIV and syphilis status. The intervention strategy should take these into consideration.

Angiotensin II ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; secretion ; Endothelins ; secretion ; Humans ; Polyphenols ; pharmacology ; Propanolamines ; pharmacology ; Tea ; chemistry ; Weightlessness Simulation

The finite element method (FEM) is a mathematical technique using modern computer technology for stress analysis, and has been gradually used in simulating human body structures in the biomechanical field, especially more widely used in the research of thoracolumbar spine traumatology. This paper reviews the establishment of the thoracolumbar spine FEM, the verification of the FEM, and the thoracolumbar spine FEM research status in different fields, and discusses its prospects and values in forensic thoracolumbar traumatology.
Biomechanical Phenomena ; Computer Simulation ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae/injuries* ; Models, Theoretical ; Stress, Mechanical ; Thoracic Vertebrae/injuries* ; Traumatology

On account of the dense cuticles of the fresh stem and the light, hard and pliable texture of the dried stem, Dendrobii Caulis is difficult to dry or pulverize. So, it is very important to the ancient doctors that Dendrobii Caulis should be properly treated and applied to keep or evoke its medicinal effects. The current textual research results about the preliminary processing, processing and usage methods of Dendrobii Caulis showed that: (1) In history the clinical use of fresh or processed Dendrobii Caulis as teas and tinctures were very common. (2) Its roots and rhizomes would be removed before using. (3) Some ancillary approaches were applied to shorten drying times, such as rinsing with boiling mulberry-ash soup, washing or soaking with liquor, mixing with rice pulp and then basking, etc. (4) According to the ancients knowledge, the sufficient pulverization, by means of slicing, rasping, hitting or pestling techniques, was necessary for Dendrobii Caulis to take its effects. (5) The heat processing methods for Dendrobii Caulis included stir-baking, stir-frying, steaming, decocting and stewing techniques, usually with liquor as an auxiliary material. Among above mentioned, steaming by pretreating with liquor was most commonly used, and this scheme was colorfully drawn in Bu Yi Lei Gong Pao Zhi Bian Lan (Ming Dynasty, 1591 CE) ; moreover, decocting in advance or long-time simmering so as to prepare paste products were recommended in the Qing Dynasty. (6) Some different processing programs involving stir-baking with grit, air-tightly baking with ondol (Kangs), fumigating with sulfur, which appeared in modern times and brought attractive outward appearance of the drug, went against ancients original intentions of ensuring drug efficacy.
Dendrobium ; History, Ancient ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; history ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; history

OBJECTIVETo inquire into the relationship between lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene D9N, N291S and S447X polymorphisms and the development of cardiovascular diseases in children with obesity.

METHODSThe polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RLFP) techniques were used to detect three common mutations of LPL gene exon D9N, N291S and S447X in 157 obese children and 175 normal controls. Plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels between children with different genotypes were compared.

RESULTSThe D9N and N291S gene mutations were not detected in either the obese or the control groups. There were no significant differences in the frequency of S447X gene mutation between the two groups. There were no significant differences in the levels of plasma lipid and lipoprotein between children with S447 and X447 genotypes.

CONCLUSIONSD9N and N291S gene mutations may not be risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases in children with obesity. S447X gene mutation might not play an important role in the development of cardiovascular diseases in childhood.

Adolescent ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; etiology ; genetics ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lipoprotein Lipase ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation ; Obesity ; genetics ; Risk Factors

Objective To explore the relationship between some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP)loci of interferon regulatory factor 6(IRF6)gene,transforming growth faetor-?(TGFA)gene and nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate(NSCL/P)in nuclear families consisting of fathers, mothers and affected offspring with NSCL/P from southeast China.Methods Some SNloci of IRF6 and TGFA were detected by applying microarray technology in nuclear families,and then haplotype relative risk (HRR)and transmission disequilibrium test(TDT)were performed.Results There were no significant difference in genotypes and alleles distribution between patients and their parents.The SNP locus——V274I of IRF6 was associated with NSCL/P(HRR:?~2=4.5816,P

Objective To determine whether cleavage developmentally retarded embryos have not cleaved during a 24 hour period could develop into blastocysts and produce hESC cell lines.Methods A total of 120 such embryos were cultured to blastocyst stage by sequential culture.Blastocysts formation rate and quality of blastocyst were detected under microscope.The relation between blastocyst formation rate and blastomere number,the fragment of blastomere and blastomere symmetry were analyzed by stepwise Logistical regression analysis.Inner cell masses(ICMs)were isolated by immunosurgery.Colonies derived from the ICMs were passed every 4-7 days and the derivatives were passaged and identified.Results A total of 22 blastocysts were obtained from 120 embryos.The blastulation rate was 18.7%.Early blatocyst, blastocyst,full blastocyst,expanded blastocyst,hatching blastoeyst and hatched blastocyst accounted for 5.9%,23.5%,35.3%,23.5%,5.9%,and 5.9% respectively.The grade of ICM and trophoblast was mostly scored C or B.Blastocyst formation rate was related to cell number and blastomere symmetry but not fragment.Immunosurgery resulted in the formation of 7 ICMs and 3 primary colonies,which produced 2 cell lines.The cell lines satisfied the criteria that characterize pluripotent hESC cells.Undifferentiated cells were positive for AKP,SSEA-4,TRA-1-60,and TRA-1-81.It could continue to proliferate in vitro and form embryoid bodies when cultured in suspension.It had capability to form teratoma in SCID mice.Both cell lines had normal karyotypes after 45 and 34 passages respectively.Conclusions Our results suggest that a subset of developmentally retarded embryos can form blastocysts and give rise to hESC cell lines.