Objective To evaluate the effect of salicylic acid on skin barrier function and the efficacy of salicylic acid combined with flumetasone ointment for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD).Methods Sixtyfour patients with AD (including 31 males and 33 females) aged 18 to 58 years were recruited into the present study.Four lesional areas of similar size and severity were selected at the similar body sites of both sides of each patient,and randomly classified into four groups to be topically treated with compound flumetasone ointment (containing 0.02％ flumetasone and 3％ salicylic acid,compound flumetasone group),flumetasone 0.02％ ointment (flumetasone group),salicylic acid 3％ ointment (salicylic acid group) and vehicle (control group),respectively;two normal skin areas were chosen from apparently normal skin on the similar body sites of both sides of each patient and topically treated with salicylic acid 3％ ointment (salicylic acid group) and vehicle (control group) respectively.All of these preparations were applied twice a day for 3 weeks.Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was measured by a Tewameter MPA580 (Courage & Khazaka,Germany) at the baseline as well as on week 1,2 and 3 after initiation of treatment.Symptom and sign scores were evaluated before and after the treatment.Meanwhile,two normal skin areas were selected on bilateral forearm of 30 healthy controls and treated with 3％ salicylic acid ointment (salicylic acid group) and vehicle (control group) respectively twice a day for 3 weeks,and TEWL was measured before treatment as well as on week 1 and 3 after initiation of treatment.Results In the healthy controls,TEWL value showed no significant difference between the salicylic acid group and control group at any of these time points.As far as the lesional skin was concerned,no statistical difference was observed in TEWL value at the baseline between the four groups ((34.26 ± 20.82) vs.(33.02 ±16.71) vs.(34.16 ± 18.03) vs.(33.81 ± 17.11) g· m-2· h-1,P ＞ 0.05),but significant difference was noted after treatment (repeated measurement data analysis of variance,F =39.57,P ＜0.01),with the TEWL value being (22.38 ± 16.16),(17.04 ± 12.74),and (15.34 ± 13.13) g·m-2·h-1 respectively in the compound flumetasone group on week 1,2 and 3,(24.63 ± 17.08),(20.37 ± 9.53),(19.06 ± 9.17) g·m-2·h-1 respectively in the flumetasone group,(26.49 ± 8.59),(21.91 ± 8.46),(21.20 ± 9.38) g·m-2·h-1 respectively in the salicylic acid group,and (29.80 ± 12.48),(26.16 ± 8.31),(25.52 ± 6.05) g·m-2·h-1 respectively in the control group.In detail,the decrease in TEWL value was stronger in the compound flumetasone group than in the flumetasone group on week 1,2,and 3 (all P ＜0.05),in the salicylic acid group than in the control group (P ＜0.05 or 0.01),but similar between the flumetasone group and salicylic acid group.In non-lesional skin,the salicylic acid group showed a more intense decrease in TEWL value compared with the control group on week 2 and 3 (both P ＜0.05).Both the cure rate and response rate were significantly higher in the compound flumetasone group than in the flumetasone group (53.1％ vs.34.4％,x2 =4.57,P＜0.05;83.1％ vs.64.1％,x2 =6.90,P＜0.01).Conclusions The salicylic acid 3％ ointment shows a reparative effect on skin barrier in patients with AD,and the compound flumetasone ointment is superior to the flumetasone ointment in the treatment of AD.

Objective To evaluate the value of transient elastography (TE) for predicting severity of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).Methods A total of 969 patients with CHB was enrolled and recruited for analysis,which had been received TE scan,including 258 patients of liver biopsy,and 117 patients of gastric endoscopy.Results A total of 35 patients was excluded from analysis due to TE failure or unreliable TE.Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) was independently influenced by bilirubin,AST,liver fibrosis and inflammation,ultrasonic score and albumin.TE predicted Child-Pugh C,B/C,liver fibrosis S4,≥S3 and ≥ S2 with respective area under receiver operating characteristics curves (AUROC)0.907 (95% CI 0.886-0.928 ),0.920 ( 95% CI 0.899-0.940 ),0.871 ( 95% CI 0.819-0.923 ),0.852(95%CI0.805-0.899) and 0.807(95% CI0.749-0.865),respectively.While LSM ＜32.2 kPa excluded Child-Pugh C with 99.4% probability,LSM ≥35.3 kPa determined Child-Pugh B/C with positive predictive value (PPV) 0.820.For compensated CHB,cut-offs of LSM 23.3,15.2 and 10.8 kPa diagnosed cirrhosis,liver fibrosis ≥S3 and ≥S2 with positive likelihood ratio nearly 10.0 and PPV 0.692,0.882 and 0.980,respectively; and cut-offs 8.8 kPa,6.6 kPa excluded cirrhosis,liver fibrosis ≥ S3 with negative likelihood ration nearly 0.1 and negative predictive value 0.977 and 0.903,respectively.Correlation coefficient between LSM and grades of esophageal varices was only 0.180,and AUROC for TE predicting EV was of no clinical value.ConclusionTE relatively make accurate prediction in the severity of liver fibrosis and classification of Child-Pugh.Patients with LSM ≥ 10.8 kPa should be considered for receiving antivirus treatment.

Objective To evaluate the specificity,sensitivity and accuracy of miniature probe combined with radial scanning endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)in preoperative TN staging of rectal cancer,and to assess its value in the choice of therapeutic strategy.Methods A total of 60 patients with rectal cancer received EUS assessment before surgery.Diagnosis was made according to TNM standard and compared with those of MRI and postoperative pathological examination.The reference value of EUS for therapy selection was studied.Results According to EUS staging,there were 4 cases of TI,18 T2,30 T3 and 8 T4,among which 7 cases were over-staged and 4 others were under-staged.MRI staging showed 1 case of T1,18 T2,30 T3 and 10 T4,among which 14 were over-staged and 3 others were under-staged.The total accuracy of EUS in T staging and N staging was 81.67%(49/60)and 78.33%,respectively,with the sensitivity and specificity at 71.43%and 91.03%,respectively.Accuracy of MRI for T staging and N staging were 71.67%(43/60)and 83.33%,respectively,with the sensitivity and specificity as 85.71%and 86.96%.Conclusion EUS with combination of miniature probe and radial scanning is effective in preoperative TN staging of rectal cancer with easy manipulation and less pain.

Objective To investigate the procedure,imaging features and clinical significance of CT virtual gastroscopy(CTVG) in the diagnosis of gastric carcinoma using bi-tilted CT scanning.Methods Thirty patients and ten normal volunteers had bitilted CT scan using helical CT(GE lightspeed 16 CT).The patients and yolunteers were given bubble-making powder by mouth and placed in a supine position on the CT table.CTVG and MPR images were obtained using the virtual dissection and reform of GE.Results The appearances of the inner lesion and normal wall of the stomach on CTVG were similar to those on fiberoptic gastroscopy.The CTVG and MPR features of gastric cancer were focal or diffuse mural thickening,soft tissue mass,stenosis of stomach,cancerous ulcer,infiltration to adjacent tissues,and lymph node and distant metastases.In comparison with fiberoptic gastroscopy(as the gold standard),CTVG showed a diagnostic accuracy of 92.5 %,a sensitivity of 93.3 %,a specificity of 90.0 %,a positive prediction value of 96.7 %,and a negative prediction value of 81.8 %.Conclusions CTVG is a safe,reliable,non-invasive method for demonstrating the structure of normal and abnormal stomach,and is a good complementory method to conventional fiberoptic gastroscopy.

Objective To explore an effective pulmonary function training health education approach for patients after cardiothoracic surgery. Methods 100 patients after cardiothoracic surgery were randomly divided into experimental group (50 cases) and control group (50 cases). The patients in the control group were given conventional health education, while those in the experimental group were given standard pulmonary function training health education approach. Their incidence of complications, duration of chesttube and hospitalization were compared. Results The incidence of complications, duration of chesttube and hospitalization were all less in the experimental group than the controls （P<0.05）. Conclusion Standard pulmonary function training health education approach can accelerate the recovery of patients after cardiothoracic surgery.

Objective To study the value of DSA for hepatic vascular anatomy,and to evaluate the efficacy of portal vein occlusion in rabbits with hepatic VX2 tumor.Methods Twenty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups with 10 in each group,including test group A and positive control group B of ham operation.For the test group A,portal branch ligation(PBL)was performed for the left external branch after 3 weeks of the tumor implantation to the left external lobe.Two weeks later,the DSA of hepatic artery and portal vein were performed in all of the rabbits.Results The total displaying effectiveness of the branches of hepatic artery by DSA was better than that by vascular perfusion.There was hypovascular blood supply to hepatic artery implantation of the tumor in the test group A,comparing with that of the group B.Conclusion DSA can clearly display spacial details of the hepatic vascular anatomy in rabbits,and play an important role in post-procedual evaluation of the portal vein occlusion in rabbits.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the midterm follow-up results of extended release of posterior clearance in total knee arthroplasty.

METHODSA total of 120 patients with knee osteoarthritis were equally randomly assigned to the experimental group and control group, and underwent unilateral TKA from March 2010 to March 2012. In experimental group, there were 21 males and 39 females with an average age of (62.2±10.9) years old. In the control group, there were 25 males and 35 females with an average age of (64.9±11.4) years old. All the patients were performed using the anterior knee approach. During operation, after osteotomy of the tibia and the femoral condyle, extended release of the posterior knee clearance were taken in experimental group, while only the clearance of osteophyte in the posterior condyle were performed in the control group. The KSS scores including knee functional score and knee clinical score,as well as the range of motion (ROM) of patients, were compared between the two groups at midterm follow-up.

RESULTSTotally 49 patients in the experimental group and 54 patients in the control group were followed up, and the median follow-up time was 46 months. The knee functional score of patients in the experimental group was 91.3±3.4, which was better than 86.4±3.9 of patients in the control group; initiative ROM of flexion of patients in the experimental group was (133.2±5.9)°, which was better than (126.9±7.4)° of patients in the control group. There were no significant difference of knee clinical score between 86.9±4.6 of patients in the experimental group and 85.7±5.1 of patients in the control group, and the initiative ROM of extension between (0.5±1.1)° and (0.3±1.2)°.

CONCLUSIONExtended release of the posterior knee clearance contributes to the knee function and initiative flexion ROM during a midterm follow-up and patients benefit.

Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; methods ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Range of Motion, Articular

The technique conditions of decolonization of fermentation broth were successively optimized using single factor assay and orthogonal layout method in Cordyceps jiangxiensis. The optimal condition of decolorization was investigated to be 3g/100mL active carbon, 5 min absorption time, pH5 of fermented broth and 25℃absorption temperature. Under the optimal condition, the maximum decolorization rate of fermented broth reached 89. 6% , simultaneously 10. 7% consuming rate of exopolysaccahride was minimum. Subsequently, the extract condition of exopolysaccharide of C. jiangxiensis was further optimized by orthogonal layout design. The maximum exopolysaccharide production was 0. 38 g/L under the optimal condition, i. e. firstly fermented filtrate decolorized and deproteined was concentrated to 1/7 of its total volume, secondly concentration broth was mixed with four times its volume of absolute ethanol and stirred vigorously, lastly precipitation of exopolysaccharide proceeded at 4℃for 16 hrs and the exopolysaccharide collected by centrifugal ion and dryness.

OBJECTIVETo find out the mechanism of Tangfukang on the diabetic nephropathy(DN).

METHODA Model of streptorotocin diabetic rats was used. The expressions of the AGEs, ICAM-1, IV-C and FN were observed in renal cortex of diabetic rats with immunohistochemical method. The level of the IL-1 beta in blood serum was measured by radioimmunoassay method and the level of TNF was determined in blood serum by ELISA method. Aminoguanidine was selected as the control medicine which could inhibit the expression of monenzymatic glycosylation end products of protein. All the results were compared to analyze the effect of Tangfukang on monenzymatic glycosylation of protein and cytokine expression in early diabetic nephropathy rats.

RESULTSBoth Tangfukang and aminoguanidine significantly decreased the expression of AGEs, but Tangfukang was greatly superior to aminoguanidine in suppressing the expression of cytokine like ICAM-1, IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha and the ingredients of extracellular matrix like IV-C, FN.

CONCLUSIONIt may be the partical mechanism of Tangfukang to suppress the monenzymatic glycosylation of protein and to reduce the expression of cytokine in diabetes. The effect of Tangfukang is superior to that of aminoguanidine.

Adrenal Cortex ; metabolism ; Animals ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Capsules ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; metabolism ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; metabolism ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Ligustrum ; chemistry ; Male ; Phellodendron ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the change of expression level of metastasis suppressor gene Kiss-1 in the colorectal cancer cell line SW480 after radiation, and to determine its association with the proliferation and apoptosis of SW480 cells.

METHODSSW480 cells were divided into control group (0 Gy) and study groups (2, 4, 6, 8 Gy). Cells in the study groups were irradiated by 6-MV X-ray radiation for 48 hours. Immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR methods were used to investigate the influence of radiation on Kiss-1 gene expression of SW480. Colony formation assay was used to detect the proliferation of SW480. Flow cytometry-Annexin- V/PI assay was used to observe the change of the apoptosis rate.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, Kiss-1 protein expression increased after radiation of 6, 8 Gy (P<0.05), but no significant changes were observed after radiation of 2, 4 Gy(P>0.05). Kiss-1 gene mRNA level increased after radiation of 2, 4, 6 Gy, while no obvious change was observed for 8 Gy radiation. The apoptosis rates increased for 4, 6, 8 Gy radiation(P<0.05), however, there was no significant difference for 2 Gy radiation (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONRadiation may increase Kiss-1 gene expression in SW480 cells, which results in decreases proliferation and increases apoptosis in residual surviving cells.

Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Kisspeptins ; genetics ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; X-Rays