Objective To observe the clinical effect of Herba Houttuyniae Injection in treating senile pneumonia and to explore its possible mechanism. Methods Sixty-five patients were randomly divided into two groups. The control group was treated with conventional western therapy (CWT), while the treatment group was treated with CWT plus Herba Houttuyniae Injection. The changes of serum cytokines, IL-2 and TNF-?, before and after treatment were observed. Results the total effective rate of treatment group is 94.3%, while that of the control group is 83.3%. The difference of the total effective rate between the two groups was significant(P

Objective:To observe the effects of rosiglitazone on transforming growth factor-?1(TGF-?1)/SMADs signal pathway in dia- betic rat myoeardium(DM)and cardiac remodeling. Methods:Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control,DM and rosiglitazone groups,each having 10 rats.Diabetic rats were induced by a single intrapefitoneal injection of streptozotoein(60mg/kg).A cannula connected to a trans- ducer was inserted into the heart to measure the cardiac function.The body weight,heart weight and heart weight/body weight (HW/BW)were measured.The ultrastruetural changes were evaluated by electron microscope and collagen content was assessed by Van Gieson staining.The mRNA expression level of SMAD3 and SMAD7 were determined by RT-PCR.The protein level of TGF-?1,SMAD3 and SMAD7 were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results:Compared with the normal controls,diabetic rats experienced marked myocardium damage.Cardiac function,espe- cially diastolic function was impaired,HW/BW(P

Objective:To evaluate high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) genotyping and viral load in predicting CIN (cervical intraepi-thelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 2 or worse in a Chinese rural area population with limited health resources. Methods:We performed a population-based prospective study and enrolled 2,257 women aged 35 to 64 years from three rural screening sites of Jiangxi prov-ince. We conducted a hybrid capture (HC-2) assay to predict viral load. A HC-2 relative light unit (RLU) threshold of 10 was set to differ-entiate samples between low (<10) and high (≥10) viral loads. We also carried out a HybriMax test to detect different hrHPV geno-types in the samples. Women exhibiting positive HC-2 or HybriMax results underwent colposcopy and colposcopically directed biopsy. Women with negative or positive hrHPV test results but with normal biopsy or CIN1 were followed-up for 24 months without interven-tion (n=2,211). We used histopathological findings as outcome. Results:Of the 2,211 women, 1,636 provided complete follow-up data. Of the 132 women with a high viral load, 4 (3.03%) developed CIN2+in the same period. The relative risk (RR) of CIN2+for HC-2 posi-tivity at baseline was 42.24 (95%CI=4.76-375.2). Of the 159 women who were positive for HPV16 or HPV18 upon screening, 4 (2.52%) progressed to CIN2+(RR=33.06, 95%CI=3.72-293.9). The 2-year cumulative incidence rates of CIN2+did not significantly differ be-tween the high viral load group and the HPV16/18 group. Conclusion:The risks of CIN2+progression were higher among women with a high viral load or HPV16/18 positivity than among women with negative hrHPV. Increasing the HC-2 cut-off value to 10 RLU or using HPV16/18 positivity may be similarly used to triage hrHPV-positive women for immediate colposcopy and comprehensive follow-up.Both approaches were equally predictive of the CIN2+risk in rural area. Increasing the HC-2 cut-off value to 10 RLU may also help allo-cate health resources effectively.

Triterpenes, which have large application potential in the treatment of cancer, are the main active components of genuine medicinal material Alisma orientale (Sam.) Juzep. Farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS) is one of the important rate-limiting enzymes in the synthetic pathway of triterpenes. In this study the FPPS full length cDNA of the A. orientale, was cloned via homology-based cloning approach and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The full length of the FPPS cDNA was 1 531 bp (accession no. HQ724508), which contained a full 1 032 bp ORF that encoded 343 amino acids. The deduced protein sequence exhibited five conserved motifs, two of which is riched of Asp (DDXXD). The result of real-time quantitative PCR (QRT-PCR) showed that FPPS gene was expressed in different organs of A. orientale. The expression increased from October to the first ten-day period of December, and then decreased. The FPPS gene expression was higher in leaves but lower in leafstalk, tuber and root. HPLC analysis of active components 23-acetyl-alismol B of A. orientale. during different periods indicated that its change trend should be consistent with FPPS gene expression. It can be primarily deduced that FPPS gene should be an important control point in the synthetic pathway of Alisma terpenes. This study may facilitate the quality of medicinal plants through gene engineering in the future.

Objective To evaluate effects of interleukin-36α (IL-36α) on psoriasiform skin lesions and C-C motif chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) expression in mice.Methods Totally,30 BALB/c female mice were randomly and equally divided into 3 groups:control group treated with topical vaseline cream on the shaved back and intracutaneous injection with phosphate buffer saline (PBS),model group treated with topical imiquimod cream on the shaved back and intracutaneous injection with PBS,experimental group treated with topical imiquimod cream on the shaved back and intracutaneous injection with IL-36α solution.Psoriasis area severity index (PASI) was used to evaluate changes of psoriasiform skin lesions in mice,and light microscopy to observe morphological changes of skin lesions and to measure the thickness of the epidermis.Real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot analysis were performed to determine the expression of IL-36α in skin lesions in the control group and model group,and qRT-PCR,Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical study to evaluate changes of CCL20 levels in skin lesions.Results The model group showed significantly increased mRNA (△ Ct value:0.0195 ± 0.0059) and protein expression (3.922 ± 0.248) of IL-36α compared with the control group (mRNA:0.0012 ± 0.0004,P ＜ 0.05;protein:0.690 ± 0.025,P ＜ 0.05).The mRNA and protein expression of CCL20 were significantly higher in the experimental group than those in the model group (mRNA:2.152 ± 0.793 vs.0.999 ± 0.178;protein:0.397 ± 0.033 vs.0.145 ± 0.030;both P ＜ 0.05),and higher in the model group than those in the control group (mRNA:0.378 ± 0.075;protein:0.025 ± 0.009;both P ＜ 0.05).Immunohistochemical study showed that the expression intensity of CCL20 in skin lesions significantly increased in the experimental group compared with that in the model group (Z =2.294,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion IL-36α may aggravate psoriasiform skin inflammation in mice by promoting CCL20 expression.

Animal medicine is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine with a long application history in China. Systematically understanding the history of the development of animal medicine is of great significance to scientific protection and rational use of animal medicine resources. It has certain guiding significance to protection of wild resources, exploitation of new substitutes, standardization and summary of artificial breeding, and artificial reproduction technology. Taking the development of bezoar as an example, this article expounded the following four aspects:the development history of animal medicine, national animal protection, technical development, and prospect forecast by summarizing the Chinese ancient medical books and consulting the relevant laws and regulations. The entire above are about to offer new ideas for the sustainable development, the development of new medicine resources, and the development of animal medicine related preparation product.

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of nibble debridement combined with silver ions dressing in treatment of diabetic foot ulcer.Methods The data of 238 patients with diabetic foot ulcer in people's hospital of Meishan from January 2012 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.Of which 125 patients were treated by nibble debridement combined with silver ions dressing(nibble debridement group),113 patients were treated with surgical debridement combined with silver ions dressing(surgical debridement group).The clinical efficacy,wound healing time and complication between two groups were compared.Results The wound healing time of nibble debridement group was (37.5 ± 10.8) days,which was shorter than (45.3 ± 11.7) days of surgical debridement group,the difference was significant (P ＜0.05).The total effective rate of nibble debridement group was 92.80％,which was higher than 73.45％ of surgical debridement group,the difference was significant(P ＜ 0.05).No complication occurred in two groups.Conclusion The method of nibble debridement combined with silver ions dressing treatment has a better satisfactory clinical result,shorter wound healing time and lower medical costs for patients with diabetic foot ulcer.

ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of fast-track surgery (FTS) in perioperative nursing for biliary calculi surgery. MethodsOnline databases of PubMed, Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang Data were comprehensively searched for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Potential bias was evaluated by Cochrane tools and data were analyzed by RevMan 5.3. ResultsA total of 11 RCTs with 1455 patients were included (738 cases in FTS group and 717 cases in control group). The results of meta-analysis showed that FTS significantly reduced the length of postoperative hospital stay (MD=-4.10, 95% CI: -5.68 to -2.52, P＜0.000 01) and hospital costs (MD=-0.47, 95%CI: -0.60 to -0.34, P＜0.000 01); meanwhile, FTS shortened the time to gastrointestinal recovery (SMD=-2.05, 95%CI: -2.84 to -1.27, P＜0.000 01), as well as the time to first defecation (SMD=-1.27, 95% CI: -2.08 to -0.46, P＜0.000 01). As for safety, FTS significantly reduced the total complications of choledocholithiasis (RR=0.53, 95%CI: 0.43-0.65, P＜0.000 01) and hepatolithiasis (RR=0.52, 95% CI: 0.35-0.77, P=0.001). ConclusionFTS is effective and safe in perioperative nursing for biliary calculi surgery. It can significantly reduce the length of postoperative hospital stay, enhance gastrointestinal recovery, shorten the time to first defecation, and reduce total complications.

BACKGROUND:Along with the widespread application of biodegradable materials in the field of medicine and the in-depth research of biomechanics,the drawbacks of traditional medical metal materials are increasingly appearing.In recent years,researchers at home and abroad focus on biodegradable materials that are represented by high molecular polymer to seek new breakthroughs in the field of spinal instability.OBJECTIVE:To investigate biomechanical changes of polylactic acid-polyglycolic acid (PLGA) lumbar interbody fusion cage in the body and discusses its feasibility for treating segmental instability of the spine.METHODS:Forty-two healthy pigs (9 months old) were randomly divided into two groups (n=21),and L4/5 intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus was removed in all animals.In experimental group,PLGA lumbar interbody fusion cage filled with broken bone was implanted;and in control group,autologous bone was implanted.X-ray was performed to observe the fusion of operation segments at 4,12 and 72 weeks postoperatively.Feasibility of fibrous fusion was measured by biomechanical test.Histologically,bone graft fusion at the surgical site and material degradation were detected.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Imaging examination:Bone graft fusion in two groups was not visible at 4 weeks after operation.Evidence of increasing fusion was found in the experimental group at 12 weeks after operation;a visible part of the bone bridge was found in the control group,in which there was one case of fusion.Degradation of the fusion cage with one case of fusion in experimental group was found after 72 weeks after operation,and two cases of fusion in the control group.(2) Biomechanical test:There was no difference in the spinal range of motion between the two groups in different states at 4 weeks after operation (P ＞ 0.05).The spinal range values of motion at most of the states at 72 weeks after operation were significantly lower than those at 4 weeks after operation.(3) Cell histology observation:With the passage of time,the materials in the experimental group degraded gradually;new bone grew slowly and then fast,with bone fusion step by step.Fusion results were similar in the two groups.Our experimental findings indicate that the PLGA lumbar fusion cage has good biocompatibility.In addition to the individual state (left flexion),the mechanical properties of the fusion cage are similar to that of autogenous bone,and the fusion cage enables the segmental reconstruction of the pig spine to the maximum extent.

Objective: To identify Euryales Semen and its closely related species using the ITS2 barcode. Method:The total genomic DNAs were extracted from twenty samples of Euryales Semen and its closely related species. The ITS2 regions of the samples were amplified and bidirectional sequenced. Obtained sequences were submitted to the GenBank with Sequin 12.3. ITS2 sequences of 102 samples belonging to thirty species were downloaded from GenBank. The 122 ITS2 sequences were aligned and the genetic distances were analyzed with MEGA 5.1. Identification analyses were performed using BLAST1 and nearest distance methods, and were presented intuitively by constructing neighbor-joining (NJ) tree. Result: The length of ITS2 region of Euryales Semen was 214 bp, which was only one haplotype. There was significant divergence of the ITS2 regions among the samples. The NJ tree showed that Euryales Semen could be obviously differed from its closely related species, which had good 408 monophyly. Conclusion: ITS2 regions as a DNA barcode can stably and accurately distinguish Euryales Semen from its closely related species and also provide a new technique to ensure clinical safety in utilization of tradi-tional Chinese medicines. The new exploration could broaden the application of DNA barcoding technology in identification of Traditional Chinese Medicine.