Mast cells regulate inflammation and immunity.Experimentally induced abdominal aortic aneurysm in mast cells-deficient animals and animals treated with mast cells inhibitors demonstrate that mast cells are involved in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm via several different mechanisms.Mast cells-dependent activation of metalloproteinases and the renin-angiotensin system,contribution to smooth muscle cell apoptosis,and release of proteolytic enzymes are some key examples.Activated mast cells also contribute to neovascularization,inflammation,and atherosclerosis,all hallmarks of abdominal aortic aneurysm.Thus,we may envision that mast cells stabilizing agents,as well as leukotriene receptor antagonists and histamine receptor blockers already in clinical use for treatment of other diseases,could also be tested for their efficacy in treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Objective To evaluate the capability of virtual non-contrast (VNC)of the second-generation dual-source CT (DSCT), and to display the adipose tissue of gastric serosa.Methods 48 patients with gastric cancer undergoing preoperative DSCT and sur-gery were enrolled.The true non-contrast (TNC)values and VNC values of perigastric adipose tissue were measured and compared with conventional non-contrast scanning and VNC of arterial phase and venous phase.The VNC values of perigastric adipose tissue were compared between serosal involvement group and non-serosal involvement group.Results There was statistical difference be-tween TNC values and VNC values of perigastric adipose tissue (P <0.05),the absolute differences were under 13 HU.The differ-ence of VNC values between serosal involvement group and non-serosal involvement group was significant (P <0.05).Conclusion VNC of the second-generation DSCT can clearly display the adipose tissue of gastric serosa.It has certain capability in judging sero-sal involvement.VNC has the proficiency to replace conventional non-contrast scanning.

Objective : To investigate the factors affecting concurrent sarcopenia among patients with cardiovascular diseases, so as to provide insights into early identification and prevention of cardiovascular diseases complicated with sarcopenia. Methods: A total of 250 inpatients with cardiovascular diseases in the Sixth Division Hospital of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps were recruited and divided into the sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups according to the diagnostic criteria of sarcopenia. Subjects' basic characteristics, body mass index, blood biochemical indicators and human body composition parameters were collected using questionnaire surveys, and factors affecting concurrent sarcopenia among patients with cardiovascular diseases using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: Among the 250 patients with cardiovascular diseases, there were 149 males (59.60%) and 101 females (40.40%). The overall prevalence of sarcopenia was 8.40% among the study subjects. The mean age and body mass index were (75.19±9.74) and (20.77±2.19) kg/m2 in the sarcopenia group and (65.24±11.50) years and (25.85±2.87) kg/m2 in the non-sarcopenia group. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified age (OR=1.115, 95%CI: 1.030-1.207) and body mass index (OR=0.582, 95%CI: 0.445-0.761) were as factors affecting concurrent sarcopenia among patients with cardiovascular diseases. Conclusion Advanced age and low body mass index may increase the risk of concurrent sarcopenia among patients with cardiovascular diseases.

Objective To study the relationship between preoperative serum a-fetoprotein (AFP) level and early recurrence of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after partial hepatectomy.Methods 267 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent partial hepatectomy in Xijing Hospital,the Fourth Military Medical University from January 2011 to November 2015 were retrospectively studied.The patients were divided into the AFP-negative group (AFP ≤20 μg/L) and the AFP-positive group (AFP ＞ 20 μg/L) according to the preoperative serum AFP levels.The risk factors of early recurrence of HCC in patients after partial hepatectomy were studied by multivariate regression analysis.The recurrence-free survival rates during 24 months after surgery between the AFP-negative group and the AFP-positive group were compared.Results In 267 patients,97 patients had low or negative AFP levels (AFP≤20 μg/L) and 170 patients had high or positive AFP levels (AFP ＞ 20 μg/L).Patients in the AFP-positive group had significantly more well differentiated HCC on tumor histology when compared with patients in the AFP-negative group (x2 =17.050,P ＜ 0.05).The proportion of patients with liver cirrhosis in the AFP-positive group was significantly higher than that of the AFP-negative group (x2 =4.374,P ＜ 0.05).On the other hand,the numbers of patients with adjacent tissue invasion (x2 =4.374,P ＜ 0.05) and early HCC recurrence (x2 =7.595,P ＜ 0.05) in the AFP-positive group were significantly less than those of the AFP-negative group.Survival analysis showed that the recurrence-free survival rates in the AFP-positive and negative groups were 35.3％,52.6％,respectively.The results on univariate analysis showed that portal vein tumor thrombus,HBsAg positivity,tumor number,tumor diameter,tumor tissue differentiation,preoperative serum AFP level and adjacent tissue invasion were significantly associated with early recurrence of liver cancer (P ＜ 0.05).Cox multivariate regression analysis revealed that serum AFP positivity (HR =1.605,P ＜ 0.05),portal vein tumor thrombosis (HR =3.936,P ＜ 0.05),HBsAg positivity (HR =1.621,P ＜0.05),tumor diameter (HR =1.977,P ＜ 0.05) and tumor number (HR =1.991,P ＜ 0.05) were significantly correlated with early recurrence of liver cancer after partial hepatectomy.Conclusion The preoperative serum AFP level had an important predictive value for early recurrence of primary hepatocellular carcinoma in patients after partial hepatectomy.

Objective To investigate the intra- and interobserver repeatability of coronary artery disease (CAD) diagnosis based on invasive coronary angiography (ICA) and CT coronary angiography (CTCA).Methods Two readers with comparable experience ( over 10 years) independently evaluated ICA results of 42 consecutive patients with a blind method. After 30 days,one of them reviewed the same patients again.Another two comparable-experience (over 10 years) readers evaluated the results of CTCA (prospectively ECG-triggering) from the same 42 patients in the same way.The inter-reader and intra-reader repeatability of ICA and CTCA were analyzed by performing Kappa test and calculating the percentage of the segments with agreement on stenotic degree.Using ICA as reference,the accuracy of CTCA in diagnosing CAD was studied by comparing the area under ROC. Results The Kappa between readers for ICA and CTCA were 0.91 and 0.81.Intra-reader Kappa were 0.92 and 0.83 respectively (x2 =509.4 and 432.5,all P ＜0.01 ).The percentage of the segments with agreement between readers on the degree of stenosis were 80.8％ (494/611) in ICA and 75.2％ (469/624) in CTCA ( x2 =2.75,P =0.10),and within the same reader,86.9％ (531/611)in ICA and 81.9％ (511/624) in CTCA(x2 =3.76,P =0.053).With≥ 50％narrowing as a CAD diagnosis criterion,the agreement rates for two readers were 96.6％ (590/611 ) in ICA and 94.4％ (589/624) in CTCA( x2 =3.36,P =0.07),and for the same reader,97.4％ (595/611) in ICA,95.4％ (595/624) in CTCA ( x2 =3.62,P =0.06).Using ICA as reference,two readers of CTCA results achieved a sensitivity and specificity of 84.9％ (530/624)and 98.1％ (612/624).The area under ROC was 0.94 (95％ CI 0.91-0.97).Conclusions Both ICA and CTCA demonstrate good repeatability in diagnosing CAD.The repeatability of ICA is superior to that of CTCA.A certain discrepancy exists in two readings from the same reader or two readers.

Objective:To observe the effect of CoCl2on the cisplatin sensitivity of human ovarian cancer SKOV3cells, and to clarify the possible mechanism.Methods:The SKOV3cells were cultured in vitro and randomly divided into control group, CoCl2 group, cisplatin (DDP) group and CoCl2 combined with DDP (combination) group.The cells in CoCl2group were cultured in normal cell medium for 20hafter cultured in 200μmol·L-1 CoCl2for 4h, the cells in DDP group were cultured in normal cell medium containing 10mg·L-1 DDP for 24h, and the cells in combination group were cultured in 10mg·L-1 DDP for 20hafter cultured in 200μmol·L-1 CoCl2for 4h.The survival rates of SKOV3cells in various groups were detected by MTT method, and the positive expression intensities of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the cells in various groups were detected by immunofluorescence method.Rhod 2-AM fluorescence probe was used to observe the levels of Ca2+in mitochondria in the cells in various groups.Western blotting method was used to observe the expression levels of cytochrome C (cyto C) , cysteinyl aspartase 3 (caspase 3) and cleaved cysteinyl aspartase 3 (cleaved caspase 3) .Muse○R apoptosis assay kit was used to detect the apoptotic rates of cells in various groups.Results:Compared with control group, the survival rate of the cells in CoCl2group had no significant change (P＞0.05) , and the survival rates of the cells in DDP and combination groups were decreased (P＜0.05) ;the survival rate in combination group was higher than that in DDP group (P＜0.05) .Compared with control group, the positive expression intensities of HIF-1αin CoCl2and combination groups were increased (P＜0.05) .Compared with control group, the positive expressions of iNOS in DDP and combination groups were increased (P＜0.05) .The Ca2+levels in the cells in DDP group and combination groups were higher than that in control group (P＜0.05) and the Ca2+level in DDP group was higher than that in combination group (P＜0.05) .Compared with control group, the expression levels of cyto C, caspase 3and cleaved caspase 3proteins in the SKOV3cells in CoCl2group had no significant changes (P＞0.05) , and the expression levels of cyto C, caspase 3and cleaved caspase 3in DDP group were increased significantly (P＜0.05) ;compared with DDP group, they were lower than those in combination group (P＜0.05) .Compared with control group, the apoptotic rate of SKOV3cells in DDP group was increased significantly (P＜0.05) ;the apoptotic rate of SKOV3cells in combination group was lower than that in DDP group (P＜0.05) .Conclusion:CoCl2can redece the mitochondrial apoptosis of human ovarian cancer SKOV3cells by inhibiting the DDP-induced enhancement of iNOS expression and decrease the sensitivity of SKOV3cells to cisplatin.

The withdrawal of drugs from the market due to serious adverse reactions arising from the risk of cardiac arrhythmia has been a major concern for regulatory authorities in recent years. In 2005, the International Council for the Harmonisation of Registration of Medicinal Products for Human Use (ICH) issued preclinical S7B and clinical E14 guidelines for the evaluation of arrhythmia risk. The former includes in vitro hERG experiments and in vivo animal-based QT studies, while the latter is the TQT study (thorough QT study, TQT study). The high cost and conservative results of TQT studies have led to the introduction of new alternative methods, and the E14 guidelines were revised in 2015 and introduced concentration-QT analysis (C-QTc), based on the PK/PD (pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics) concept, by making full use of high-quality double-negative data from the non-clinical phase (double-negative, low risk of hERG tests at high clinical exposure, and low risk of QTc prolongation in vivo QTc study) makes it possible to substitute TQT studies based on specific situations. This article reviews the history of the development of E14 and its latest developments, analyses the specific situations in which C-QT can replace TQT studies through case studies, introduces the preclinical-clinical arrhythmia risk stage assessment system and compares the drug assessment process and decision making under different versions of E14 guidelines, with a view to providing a reference for the arrhythmia risk assessment system in China.

ObjectiveTo obtain the prevalence of sarcopenia in middle-aged and elderly people in Urumqi based on the 2020 updated based on the 2020 updated Consensus Report 2019 of Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia （AWGS2019）， and to further explore the association between sarcopenia and metabolic syndrome （MS）. MethodsA total of 1 438 middle-aged and elderly people （aged≥50 years） in Urumqi from July 2018 to January 2019 were selected as the research subjects. Data were collected by questionnaire survey， physical examination and laboratory test. Skeletal muscle mass，grip strength and 4 m walking speed were used to represent muscle mass， muscle strength and body function， respectively. Bioelectrical impedance analysis （BIA） was used to measure human body components. Based on the diagnostic criteria of sarcopenia recommended by AWGS2019， the prevalence of sarcopenia in people over 50 years old was obtained. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to explore the correlation between sarcopenia and MS in middle-aged and elderly people of different genders. ResultsThere were 194 patients with sarcopenia， with a prevalence of 13.49%. The prevalence was 15.56% in males and 12.12% in females. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of MS between male sarcopenia group （40.45%） and non-sarcopenia group （38.92%）， while the prevalence of MS in female sarcopenia group （39.04%） was higher than that in non-sarcopenia group （27.56%）. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that sarcopenia was a related factor of MS. Compared with non-sarcopenia， the risk of MS in male sarcopenia group was higher （OR=2.11，95%CI： 1.15‒3.88 ）. ConclusionSarcopenia increases the risk of MS in middle-aged and elderly people， with a greater risk in men. Fully understanding of sarcopenia is helpful to early identify high-risk groups of MS and prevent the occurrence of MS.

ObjectiveTo construct traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） diagnostic scale of turbid toxin syndrome in order to provide corresponding reference for the standardization of TCM syndromes and studies. MethodsWe systematically searched the Chinese Medical Dictionary （CMD）， China Knowledge Network （CNKI）， Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform （WF） and VIP database for TCM classics and modern literature on turbid toxin syndrome， and initially screened the four diagnosis information of turbid toxin syndrome， established a pool of information entries， and conducted a cross-sectional clinical survey. Discrete trend method， correlation coefficient method， Cronbach's coefficient method， and factor analysis method were applied to objectively screen the entries. The diagnostic scale of turbid toxin syndrome were constructed through three rounds of Delphi method expert survey to determine the scale entries， using hierarchical analysis to get the judgement matrix scores and relative weight of each entry， after passing consistency test and then isometric expansion of the relative weight of the entries to get the weight of each entry and assign the value. ResultsA total of 35 articles were included， 45 entries were obtained after the initial screening. After the clinical investigation， 12 entries were not suitable by the discrete trend method， 23 entries not suitable by correlation coefficient method， 13 entries by the internal consistency screening were removed with the Cronbach's alpha coefficient rising， and 10 entries not suitable by the factor analysis method. Twenty-two entries were retained after objective screening by the combined use of the four statistical methods. The positive coefficients of experts in the three rounds of Delphi method of expert consultation were 96.67%， the coefficients of expert authority were 0.834， 0.856， and 0.867， and the coefficients of co-ordination were 0.126， 0.326， and 0.312， respectively. After consulting with clinical experts， and three rounds of Delphi method survey and hierarchical analysis method weight assignment， the diagnostic scale entries of turbid toxin syndrome were finally established. Primary symptoms： dark red or purple and dusky tongue， yellowish greasy or dry coating （10 points）； sticky and unpleasant stools （8 points）； disharmony of tastes including halitosis， sticky and greasy taste in the mouth， dry mouth and bitter taste in the mouth （6 points）； unfavourable or yellowish or red urination （5 points）； and dark complexion （4 points）. Secondary symptoms： heavy body （3 points）； dizziness （3 points）； profuse， sticky， foul-smelling secretions （2 points）； wiry and slippery， or slippery， or slippery and rapid pulse （2 points）； feeling of hardness in the abdomen （1 point）. ConclusionUsing Delphi method combined with the hierarchical analysis method， combining qualitative and quantitative study， a diagnostic scale of turbid toxin syndrome was initially developed.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Dahuang Mudantang in alleviating the intestinal injury in the rat model of acute pancreatitis via the high-mobility group box 1 （HMGB1）/receptor for advanced glycation endproduct （RAGE）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway. MethodOne hundred and twenty SPF-grade Wistar rats received retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into the biliopancreatic duct for the modeling of intestinal injury in acute pancreatitis. The rats were randomized into blank， model， low-， medium-， and high-dose （3.5， 7， 14 g·kg^-1， administrated by gavage） Dahuang Mudantang， and octreotide （1×10^-5 g·kg^-1， subcutaneous injection） groups （n=20）. The rats in blank and model groups received equal volume of distilled water by gavage. Drugs were administered 1 h before and every 12 h after modeling， and samples were collected 24 h after modeling. The general status of the rats was observed. The biochemical methods were employed to measure the levels of amylase （AMS） and C-reactive protein （CRP） in the serum. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was employed to measure the levels of tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α， interleukin （IL）-1β， and IL-6 in the colon tissue. The morphological changes of pancreatic and colon tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot were employed to measure the expression levels of HMGB1， RAGE， inhibitor of NF-κB kinase （IKK）， and NF-κB suppressor protein α（IκBα）in the colon tissue. ResultThe rats in the model group showed poor general survival， writhing response， reduced frequency of defecation， and dry stool. The symptoms of rats in the model group were mitigated in each treatment group， and the high-dose Dahuang Mudantang showed the most significant effect. Compared with the normal group， the model group had elevated AMS and CRP levels （P<0.05）， which were lowered by Dahuang Mudantang （P<0.05）， especially that at the high dose （P<0.05）. Compared with the normal group， the modeling elevated that levels of TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-6 （P<0.05）. Such elevations were lowered by Dahuang Mudantang （P<0.05）， and the high-dose group and the octreotide group showed better performance （P<0.05）. The modeling caused necrotic， congested， and destructed pancreatic and colonic tissues， which were ameliorated by the drugs， especially high-dose Dahuang Mudantang. Compared with the normal group， the modeling up-regulated the mRNA levels of HMGB1， RAGE， IKK， IκBα， and NF-κB （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， Dahuang Mudantang and octreotide down-regulated the mRNA levels of HMGB1， RAGE， IKK， IκBα， and NF-κB （P<0.05）， and the high-dose Dahuang Mudantang demonstrated the best performance （P<0.05）. Western blot results showed a trend consistent with the results of Real-time PCR. ConclusionDahuang Mudantang can improved the general status， reduce inflammation， and alleviate histopathological changes in the pancreatic and colon tissues in the rat model of acute pancreatitis by inhibiting the HMGB1/RAGE/NF-κB signaling pathway.