OBJECTIVETo discuss the effect of Taohong Siwu Decoction (TSD) in regulating functions of endothelial cells and treating arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO).

METHODSThe ASO model was prepared by using high-fat diet plus intimal injury. They were randomly divided into the model group (n = 10), the normal control group (n = 9), the low dose TSD group (group A, n = 12), the middle dose TSD group (group B, n = 10), and the high dose TSD group (group C, n = 9). Eight weeks after modeling, the limb blood perfusion was observed using laser Doppler flowmetry. The arterial morphology was observed using light microscope and transmission electron microscope. The number of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) was determined using Percoll density gradient centrifugation method. Serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1, ET-1, and NO were detected using double antibody sandwich assay of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe ASO rat model was successfully established. Blood lipids levels significantly increased, the blood perfusion of left hind limbs significantly decreased, the number of CECs in the peripheral blood significantly increased, the arterial lumen was irregularly narrowed, the ultra-structure of vessel walls was damaged, serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1, and ET-1 significantly increased, and the serum level of NO significantly decreased in the model group, showing statistical difference when compared with the normal control group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, significant improvement in the aforesaid indices was shown in group B and C (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe injury and abnormal functions of endothelial cells is an important pathological process of ASO. As an effective recipe for treating ASO, TSD could protect vascular endothelial cells and improve the secretion function of vascular endothelial cells.

Animals ; Arteriosclerosis Obliterans ; blood ; drug therapy ; Diet, High-Fat ; adverse effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

Background Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a monogenic inheritance and blinding disease of fundus oculi.There is not an effective therapeutic method now.Objective This work was to identify the mutations of RP1 gene in Chinese RP patients in Ningxia area and to explore the potential interactions in the pathogenesis of RP.Methods The periphery blood of 3-5 ml was collected from 110 individuals with RP(35 ADRP and 75SRP)and 100 normal controls in Ningxia area.Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct DNA sequencing were used to screening the sequence alterations in the entire coding region and splice sites of RP1 gene.Multivariate analysis and two web-based programs( PolyPhen and SIFT) were used to analyze the results.Results Eleven mutation locus were detected in the exon 4 of RP1 gene including two novel sequence variants:p.Lys1152Lys without a higher mutation rate in comparison with normal control group(x2 =9.12 P＜0.01 ),but c.* 247A＞C with a higher mutation rate in comparison with normal control group(x2 =12.77,P＜0.01 ) and c.* 247A＞C mutation was thought to be correlated with RP( r=1.11,P＜0.05 ).The other ten mutation locus were reported as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP).The mutation rate of p.Gln1725Gln was found to be higher in the RP patients than the normal controls (x2 =42.09,P＜0.01 ),but no the significant correlation was seen between the pathogenesis of RP and mutation of p.Gln1725Gln(r=1.74,P＞0.05).p.Lys1152Lys mutation was found in only 1 patient.Three SNPs( p.Arg872His,Ala1670Thr,Ser1691Pro) were always occurred in the same 83 RP patient and the relevance ratio was higher than controls ( P＜0.01 ).The age of night blindness on patients with concurrent three mutations was (30.54± 13.68 ) years,and the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.50 ± 0.38.The age of night blindness on patients without concurrent three mutations was(21.06± 16.24) years,and the BCVA was 0.40 ±0.33 and were higher than controls ( t =2.11,P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusions In this study,the prevalence of RP1 mutations among the RP patients in Ningxia population was lower than other populations (＜ 1％ ).The alliance of SNPs (p.Arg872His、p.Ala1670Thr、p.Ser1691Pro) may play a protective role on RP patients and reduce the frequency of mutatiaon in RP1 gene.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the virological response of managing chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with peg-interferon alpha-2b (PEG-IFN alpha-2b) and ribavirin.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the virological response of 40 patients with different genotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection after anti-HCV management. Patients were given different dosages of PEG-IFN alpha-2b and ribavirin based on their weights. The duration of treatment was 48 weeks for patients infected by HCV genotype 1, and was 24 weeks for the others. HCV RNA was tested before treatment, 12 weeks post management, end of treatment, and 24 weeks after treatment stopped.

RESULTSData from 40 patients were collected. Among them, 24 cases experienced HCV genotype 1 infection, and 16 cases were infected with other genotypes. Between these two groups, the early virological responses were 75.0% (18/24) and 87.5% (14/16), the end-of-treatment virological responses were 80.0% (16/20) and 85.7% (12/14), and the sustained virological responses were 56.2% (9/16) and 78.5% (11/14), respectively.

CONCLUSIONBody weight-based customized PEG-IFN alpha-2b in combination with ribavirin can effectively treat patients with different genotypes of CHC.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; RNA, Viral ; blood ; Recombinant Proteins ; Retrospective Studies ; Ribavirin ; administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To evaluate the curative effects of endoscopic and open thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma so as to explore the feasibility of endoscopic operation for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma . Methods We made a retrospective analysis of data of 98 cases of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma diagnosed pathologically between June 2016 and January 2017 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University .All the patients were divided into two groups :52 in traditional operation group and 46 in endoscopic operation group . We analyzed the complications and the number of lymph nodes in the two groups . Results There was no significant difference in complications like voice hoarseness , hydroposia bucking and hypocalcemia between the two groups (P= 0 .6993 ,0 .9141 ,0 .5819 ,respectively) .Each patient had (5 .06 ± 3 .20) and (4 .80 ± 3 .19) lymph nodes in endoscopic operation group and traditional operation group ,respectively . No significant difference was found between the two groups (P=0 .6967) .Conclusion The traditional operation and endoscopic operation have similar curative effects for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma ,and the latter has better cosmetic effects .

Objective To explore the characteristics and components of recurrent papillary thyroid cancer in patients with metabolic syndrome .Methods We retrospectively reviewed the information of the patients with recurrent papillary thyroid cancer after initial surgery during January 1st ,2010 and December 31st ,2015 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University .We compared tumor size ,lymph node metastasis ,recurrence time and postoperative invasion rate in metabolic syndrome and non-metabolic syndrome groups . Results Totally 82 patients were included with 34 men and 48 women .There was no significant difference between patients with and those without metabolic syndrome grouped by the classic diagnosis approach .However ,the lymph node metastasis grade of recurrent papillary thyroid cancer patients who also suffered from at least two metabolic disorders ,was lower ,especially in women (P=0 .002) .Moreover ,patients with metabolic disorders had shorter recurrence time (Pdiabetes=0 .034 , Pdyslipidemia =0 .037 , PBMI =0 .004 , PMetS2 =0 .036) .Conclusion Papillary thyroid cancer patients with metabolic disorder ,especially with two or more components of metabolic syndrome and overweight and/or obesity ,may have an increasing risk of recurrence .

Objective To observe the curative effects of treatment with Octreotide for chylous leakage after neck dissection .Methods We enrolled 14 patients with intractable chylous fistula treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University for the study .The curative effects of Octreotide treatment were retrospectively reviewed .Results Out of 14 patients with intractable chylous fistula ,12 (12/14 ,86% ) were finally cured and had the drainage tube removed .The drainage volume of 7 patients (7/14 ,50% ) decreased significantly by over 50%the next day of Octreotide medication ,but decreased insignificantly in 4 patients (4/14 ,29% ) .Conclusion Octreotid is an alternative method in treatment for intactable chylous fistula because of a satisfactory curative effect in some of the patients .

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness ,safety and prospect of ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treatment of thyroid benign nodules .Methods We analyzed 153 patients with thyroid benign nodules from September 2015 to August 2016 treated by RFA at Department of Thyroid Surgery ,the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University . One month later , we reviewed the thyroid functions after the operation , observed the changes of the nodules after 1 ,3 ,and 6 months ,calculated the volume reduction rate of the nodules , and analyzed the effectiveness of the treatment .Results After treatment ,the maximum diameter and volume of the nodules were significantly reduced in all the patients ( P<0 .05) .The patients' symptoms improved significantly without serious complications . Conclusion Ultrasound-guided RFA has obvious advantages such as fewer complications , less invasiveness , good safety , and definite effectiveness in treating thyroid benign nodules . Therefore ,it has promising prospects in clinical application .

The survey of Chinese medicines resources concerns the development of the traditional Chinese medicine industry. It also directly influences the modernization process of traditional Chinese medicines. Owing to lacking of the scientific data on the Chinese medicines resources, it is a extremely urgent work to carry out survey of main Chinese medicine resources in nationwide. This paper explains the meaning and necessity. And it also investigated the survey object, contents, new technologies and methods.
Conservation of Natural Resources ; Data Collection ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Health Resources ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; Program Development ; methods

BACKGROUNDPrevious studies indicated that long coronary lesions are one of the key predictors of drug-eluting stent (DES) failure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of the long length FIREHAWK(®) stent in long coronary artery disease.

METHODSThe long cohort of TARGET I was a prospective, multicenter, single arm trial. It was planned to enroll 50 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the treatment of de novo long lesions in a native coronary artery. The major inclusion criteria of the trial was that patients were intended to undergo the treatment of a long target lesion(s) with diameter stenosis ≥ 70% and reference vessel diameter 2.5 mm to 4.0 mm by visual estimate, that needed to be covered by at least one 33 mm or 38 mm stent or multiple long stents overlapped. The angiographic follow-up was planned at 9-month and the clinical follow-up will be up to 5 years. The primary end point was in-stent late lumen loss at 9-month.

RESULTSFifty patients (mean age (57.6 ± 10.2) years) with 59 de novo long lesions (reference vessel diameter (2.85 ± 0.44) mm, lesion length (35.2 ± 9.4) mm, and stent length (41.8 ± 11.3) mm) were enrolled. The angiographic follow-up rate was 92% at 9-month. The in-stent late loss was (0.16 ± 0.16) mm. Proximal edge, distal edge and in-segment late loss (mm) were 0.21 ± 0.35, 0.03 ± 0.33, and 0.07 ± 0.26, respectively. No in-segment binary restenosis was observed. At 1-year no death, Q wave myocardial infarction (MI), or stent thrombosis occurred. Non-Q-wave MI occurred in two patients (4%) due to procedural complications.

CONCLUSIONSTreatment of long coronary lesions with the FIREHAWK(®) stent is able to produce similar results as observed in the FIREHAWK(®) FIM clinical trial. Based on this result, we are confident in the treatment prospect of the FIREHAWK(®) for long coronary lesions.

Aged ; Coronary Artery Disease ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Sirolimus ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

Cardiovascular Agents ; economics ; therapeutic use ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; congenital ; epidemiology ; etiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Dyslipidemias ; complications ; Humans ; Motor Activity ; Nutritional Status ; Overweight ; Prevalence ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; complications ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Time Factors