Objective To investigate the influence of atorvastatin in methylation and expression level of Bcl-2 in human umbilical endothelial cells(HUVECs)treated with homocysteine(Hcy)and to expound potential mechanism of atorvastatin resisting arteriosclerosis.Methods After HUVECs were treated with 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 mmol·L-1 Hcy for 48 h,MTT was used to measure the inhibitory rates of HUVECs and the half inhibitory concentration (IC50 ). According to the experimental results, the HUVECs cultured in vitro were divided into control group (0.00 mmol · L-1 Hcy ), Hcy group (9.00 mmol·L-1 Hcy ), and atorvastatin group (9.00 mmol·L-1 Hcy+1×10-3 mmol·L-1 atorvastatin).After treated for 48 h,flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptotic rate of cells, the mRNA expression of Bcl-2 was analyzed by fluorescence quantitative PCR,the protein expression of Bcl-2 was detected by Western blotting method, and the methylation level of Bcl-2 promoter region was determined by nest touch-down PCR combined with methylation specific PCR (MSP ). Results Compared with control group,the apoptotic rate of HUVECs in Hcy group was increased(P<0.01),the mRNA and protein expression levels of Bcl-2 were significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the Bcl-2 promoter region methylation level was also decreased(P<0.01).Compared with Hcy group,the apoptotic rate of HUVECs in atorvastatin group was decreased(P<0.01),the mRNA and protein expression levels of Bcl-2 gene were increased (P<0.05), and the Bcl-2 promoter region methylation level was also increased (P<0.05). Conclusion Atorvastatin can prevent the apoptosis of HUVECs induced by Hcy through regulating Bcl-2 methylation.

Non-governmental organizations ( NGOs) are playing an increasingly significant role in global health governance. This study selected ten key NGOs that play an important role in global health affairs and summarized the tools employed by NGOs participating in global health governance, including nine dimensions:“Generating informa-tion and evidence/intelligence”, “Cooperation ( Partnerships )”, “Participation”, “Consultation”, “Transparen-cy”,“Organizational adequacy/system design”, “Formulating policy / strategic direction”, “Responsibility” and“Regulation”. Four types of NGOs including Operational, Supportive, Advocacy and Integrated ones presented com-monness and their priorities in the selection of tools to participate in global health governance. Meanwhile, China should strive to nurture local NGOs, which should pay attention to“Transparency”,“Participation” and“Cooperation ( Partnerships)”.

OBJECTIVETo compare the pharmaceutical properties and the anti-tumor activities of three kinds of stealth liposomes prepared with different phospholipid composition containing brucine.

METHODStealth liposomes with different phospholipids composition, such as soybean phosphatidycholine (SPC), hydrogenated soybean phosphatidylcholine (HSPC) and the complex of SPC and HSPC, were prepared by ammonium sulfate transmembrane gradient method. Pharmaceutical properties such as shape, encapsulation efficiency and size of three stealth liposomes were compared intensively. Anti-tumor activity of SPC, HSPC and novel stealth liposomes composed of both SPC and HSPC were compared by established mouse liver cancer H22 model. Meanwhile, the mice body weight and immune organ weight were also compared.

RESULTThe encapsulation efficiency of novel, SPC and HSPC stealth liposomes were 77.7%, 64.8% and 74.8%, respectively. The mean diameters of them were less than 100 nm. The tumor inhibition rate of novel, HSPC and SPC stealth liposomes were 57.88%, 49.15%, 23.37%, respectively. The mice body weight, thymus gland index of three stealth liposomes group and spleen index of novel stealth liposomes group had no significant difference with the negative group while SPC and HSPC stealth liposomes group increased the spleen index.

CONCLUSIONPhospholipids composition is the key factor which determines the antitumor activity of brucine-loaded stealth liposomes.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Liposomes ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; Mice ; Particle Size ; Phospholipids ; chemistry ; Strychnine ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry

Background: and Purpose Intracranial vertebrobasilar atherosclerotic stenosis (IVBAS) is a major cause of posterior circulation stroke. Some patients suffer from stroke recurrence despite receiving medical treatment. This study aimed to determine the prognostic value of a new score for the posterior communicating artery and the P1 segment of the posterior cerebral artery (PCoA-P1) for predicting stroke recurrence in IVBAS. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled patients with severe IVBAS (70%–99%). According to the number of stroke recurrences, patients were divided into no-recurrence, single-recurrence, and multiple-recurrences groups. We developed a new 5-point grading scale, with the PCoA-P1 score ranging from 0 to 4 based on magnetic resonance angiography, in which primary collaterals were dichotomized into good (2–4 points) and poor (0 or 1 point). Stroke recurrences after the index stroke were recorded. Patients who did not experience stroke recurrence were compared with those who experienced single or multiple stroke recurrences. Results: From January 2012 to December 2019, 176 patients were enrolled, of which 116 (65.9%) had no stroke recurrence, 35 (19.9%) had a single stroke recurrence, and 25 (14.2%) had multiple stroke recurrences. Patients with single stroke recurrence (odds ratio [OR]= 4.134, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.822–9.380, p=0.001) and multiple stroke recurrences (OR=6.894, 95% CI=2.489–19.092, p<0.001) were more likely to have poor primary collaterals than those with no stroke recurrence. Conclusions The new PCoA-P1 score appears to provide improve predictions of stroke recurrence in patients with IVBAS.

In order to realize brain-computer interface (BCI), optimal features of single trail motor imagery electroencephalogram (EEG) were extracted and classified. Mu rhythm of EEG was obtained by preprocessing, and the features were optimized by spatial filtering, which are estimated from a set of data by method of common spatial pattern. Classification decision can be made by Fisher criterion, and classification performance can be evaluated by cross validation and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Optimal feature dimension determination projected by spatial filter was discussed deeply in cross-validation way. The experimental results show that the high discriminate accuracy can be guaranteed, meanwhile the program running speed is improved. Motor imagery intention classification based on optimized EEG feature provides difference of states and simplifies the recognition processing, which offers a new method for the research of intention recognition.

Objectives:To investigate the relationship between visceral adipose index and glomerular filtration rate in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods:A total of 1 036 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who received treatment in The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from May 2017 to May 2018 were included in this study. The visceral adipose index was detected using a bioresistance assay. These patients were divided into four groups using the quartile method: Visceral adipose index < 8.10 (q1 group, n = 246), 9.60 > visceral adipose index ≥ 8.10 (q2 group, n = 64), 11.10 > visceral adipose index ≥ 9.60 (q3 group, n = 423), visceral adipose index ≥ 11.10 (q4 group, n = 233). One-way analysis of variance was performed to compare the differences among groups. Partial correlation and multiple regression were used to analyze the correlation between body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, waist-to-hip ratio, body fat content, visceral adipose index, and urinary microalbumin and glomerular filtration rate. Results:With the increase in the visceral adipose index, the glomerular filtration rate gradually decreased. The glomerular filtration rate in the q1, q2, q3, q4 groups was (112.19 ± 31.74) mL·min -1·1.73 m -2, (106.14 ± 28.26) mL·min -1·1.73 m -2, (104.73 ± 23.63) mL·min -1·1.73 m -2, (103.40 ± 27.51) mL·min -1·1.73 m -2, respectively. In the female group, with the increase in visceral adipose index, the glomerular filtration rate decreased gradually. After controlling for age, sex, diabetes, and hypertension, the visceral adipose index was significantly correlated with the glomerular filtration rate ( r = -0.10, P < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that visceral adipose index and waist-to-height ratio were closely related to glomerular filtration rate ( F = 6.00, P < 0.001). Conclusion:With the increase of visceral adipose index, body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, waist-to-hip ratio, body fat content, and urinary microalbumin increased gradually. When the visceral adipose index is greater than 9.60, the glomerular filtration rate is significantly decreased. Therefore, it is suggested to adopt various methods to evaluate obesity in clinical work, and visceral fat index should be paid more attention, especially when the visceral fat index is greater than 9.60.

Objective Clinical research is a critical procedure for the development of medicine.Reliability of the clinical research finding is determined by the quality of study design and analysis courses.It will also further impact the guideline development and clinical practice.This study was focus on the evaluation of clinical research quality during its whole process.Methods Subjects of this study were the clinical summary reports from a government funded project which were submitted in 2016.Standardized data collecting form had been used to capture the key features regarding to the quality of study design and data analysis.After the review of data accuracy,descriptive analysis had been carried to interpret the observed findings both for design and analysis aspects.Results There were 67 project summary reports included in our analysis.The top three investigated therapeutic areas were oncology,cardiovascular/cerebrovascular diseases and orthopedics (19.4 ％,11.9 ％ and 11.9 ％).Most of studies fulfilled the evaluation criteria according to their original plan.94 ％ studies were strictly compliance with the original protocol with no interim amendment.Meanwhile,the report on sample size determination and appropriate use of multi-variable analysis should be improved.Conclusions Usually,clinical research program can fulfill the evaluate goal according to funding requirements.But the methodology quality should be paid more attention.It is highly suggested to cooperate with the professional statistical team and do continuous improvement effort to enhance the validity of study findings.

Objective:To investigate the effects of breast milk to total milk intake ratio during hospitalization on the duration of antibiotic therapy in preterm infants less than 34 weeks of gestation.Methods:Clinical data of preterm infants ( n=1 792) less than 34 gestational weeks were retrospectively collected in 16 hospitals of Jiangsu Province Neonatal-Perinatal Cooperation Network from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2021. The days of therapy (DOT) were used to evaluate the duration of antibiotic administration. The median DOT was 15.0 d (7.0-27.0 d). The patients were divided into four groups based on the quartiles of DOT: Q 1 (DOT≤7.0 d), Q 2 (7.0 d27.0 d) groups. According to the breast milk intake ratio (breast milk intake to total milk intake during hospitalization×100%), they were also divided into four groups: very-low-ratio breastfeeding group (breast milk intake ratio≤25%), low-ratio breastfeeding group (25%75%). Univariate analysis ( Chi-square test and Kruskal-Wallis rank-sum test) was used to analyze the factors influencing DOT. Spearman correlation analysis and trend Chi-square test were used to explore the relationship between breast milk intake ratio and DOT. After using multiple imputations to address missing data, two models were constructed after adjusting for different factors, and multinomial logistic regression model was applied to evaluate the effects of the breast milk intake ratio on DOT. Finally, sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the stability of the models. Results:(1) Of the 1 792 preterm infants, there were 507 (28.3%) in the Q 1 group, 422 (23.5%) in the Q 2 group, 438 (24.4%) in the Q 3 group and 425 (23.7%) in the Q 4 group. (2) The median values of DOT in the very-low-ratio, low-ratio, medium-ratio and high-ratio breastfeeding groups were 20.0 d (11.0-31.0 d), 20.0 d (11.0-32.0 d), 13.0 d (6.0-25.8 d) and 10.0 d (4.0-21.0 d), respectively. Compared with the very-low-ratio and low-ratio breastfeeding groups, the medium-ratio and high-ratio breastfeeding groups had shorter DOT (all P<0.05). (3) After adjusting for factors with P<0.1 (prenatal glucocorticoid exposure, antimicrobial use within 24 h before delivery, gestational age at delivery, birth weight, Apgar score≤7 at 1 min, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, infectious pneumonia and early-onset neonatal sepsis) between the DOT quartile groups, it showed that medium-ratio and high-ratio breastfeeding were protective factors in contrast to very-low-ratio breastfeeding in the Q 2, Q 3 and Q 4 groups as compared with the Q 1 group [Q 2 group: OR=0.50 (95% CI: 0.30-0.85) and OR=0.36 (95% CI: 0.26-0.51); Q 3 group: OR=0.31 (95% CI: 0.18-0.55) and OR=0.20 (95% CI: 0.14-0.29); Q 4 group: OR=0.22 (95% CI: 0.12-0.42) and OR=0.17 (95% CI: 0.12-0.26)]. Conclusion:Breast milk intake accounting for over 50% of total milk intake has a positive impact on reducing DOT in premature infants requiring antibiotics, which suggests that breastfeeding should be actively encouraged.