AIM To investigate the effects of pioglitazone on cardiac hypertrophy in vitro. METHODS Hypertrophy in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes (MC) and cardiac nonmyocytes (NMC) was established with angiotensinⅡ (AngⅡ). mRNA expression of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR). MTT assay and 3H TdR uptake was used to estimate proliferation of NMC. The surface area of MC was analyzed by the aid of NIH Image J software, and the synthetic rate of protein in MC was detected by 3H leucine incorporation. RESULTS In the condition of hypertrophy, increases of surface area,mRNA expression of ANP and BNP and 3H leucine incorporation in MC and an increase of proliferation in NMC were detected, but no changes in mRNA expression of ANP and BNP in NMC. Pioglitazone inhibited the changes above and reduced mRNA expression of ANP and BNP in NMC in a dose dependent manner. CONCLUSION The results demonstrate that pioglitazone inhibits cardiac hypertrophy in vitro and it suggests that pioglitazone has a potential role in the prevention and treatment of cardiac diseases such as cardiac hypertrophy.

Objective:To evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practices ( KAP) on National Essential Medi-cine System among pharmacists from secondary public hospitals in Shaanxi province. Methods: The quantitative re-search of KAP questionnaire is used, and the content of questionnaire includes personal information, knowledge, atti-tudes and practices. Results: A total of 520 copies of questionnaires were distributed and 82. 3% were effective. Respondents’ overall knowledge and attitudes are at the middle level;the main way to obtain knowledge is via training and meeting;respondents’ education level and frequency of participating in training have a significant impact on their level of knowledge;the degree of attention paid by hospitals has yet to be strengthened; and respondents are mostly concerned about the supply and distribution of essential drugs. Conclusion: In order to improve the awareness and recognition levels of pharmacists on the implementation of National Essential Medicine System in secondary public hospitals, the government should take the relevant measures, including introducing the high educated persons into secondary public hospitals, organizing related training programs and standardizing the daily monitoring of essential drugs in secondary public hospitals, etc.

Objective To explore the effects of epidermal growth factor-like domain 7 (EGFL7) gene silencing on the proliferation and invasion ablity of laryngeal carcinoma cells.Methods A lentiviral vector expressing EGFL7 shRNA was constructed and transfected into human laryngeal carcinoma Hep-2 cells.The expressions of EGFL7 mRNA and protein were detected by Real-time PCR and Western blot,respectively.Cell proliferation was evaluated by CCK-8 assay,cell cycle and apoptosis were tested by flow cytometry,and cell invasion was detected by transwell invasion assay.Results The relative expression level s of EGFL7 mRNA and protein in EGFL7-SuRNA group were svgnificantly lower than control group (P ＜0.001).Western blot analysis proved that the relative expression of EGFL7 protein in NC group,Lenti-NCgroup and Lenti-EGFL7 group was (0.39 ±0.12),(0.36 ±0.14) and (0.07 ±0.04),respectively.EGFL7 expression in Lenri-EGFL7 group was significantly inhibited than NC group (P ＜ 0.001),which confirmed that the recombinant lentivirus was successfully transfected into Hep-2 cells.The proliferation of Hep-2 cells was significantly inhibited after transfection (P ＜ 0.01).Compared with the NC group and Lenti-NC group,the proportion of cells in S phase was significantly increased in Lenti-EGFL7 group (P ＜ 0.01),and the proportion in G1 phase was significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.05).Cell apoptosis assay showed that the apoptotic rate in Lenti-EGFL7 group (66.2 ± 1.28) ％ was significantly increased in NC group (6.09-±3.28)％ and Lenti-NC group (9.86 ±2.13)％.In Transwell invision assay,the mean number of cells coming through the Metrigel in Lenti-EGFL7 group was significantly decreased than in the NC group and Lenti-NC group (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion The proliferation and invasion ablity of laryngeal carcinoma Hep-2 cells can be inhibited by siRNA mediated EGFL7 gene silencing.

Objective:To explore the characteristics of brain dynamic activity in patients with schizophrenia by using functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI).Methods:Forty-three patients with schizophrenia and 31 normal controls were recruited and under fMRI scanning.The Positive and Negative Symptom Scale(PANS)was used to assess the severity of clinical symptoms.The DPABI software were used to compute dReHo and dFC.Granger causality analysis was used to calculate the effective connectivity between the significant brain regions of dReHo and the whole brain.Two sample t-test was performed to compare the difference of dReHo and dFC be-tween patients with schizophrenia and normal controls.Results:The dReHo of left postcentral gyrus(LPG)(P＜0.01,cluster-level FWE corrected)in patients with schizophrenia was decreased.The Dfc was increased between left postcentral and left middle frontal gyrus,left superior medial frontal gyrus,right calcarine,left medial cingulum gyrus,right supplementary motor area(P＜0.01,uncorrected).Compared with normal controls,patients with schiz-ophrenia showed decreased effective connectivity from LPG to right putamen.Conclusion:It suggests that the ab-normal functional activity of the postcentral gyrus mightcontribute to the neural physiopathology in patients with schizophrenia.

Objective:To explore and evaluate a three-dimensional (3D) digital simulated design and implementation technique in esthetic rehabilitation.Methods:Thirty patients with esthetic deficiency, who came to the Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology from December 2017 to July 2019, were recruited and randomly assigned into 2 groups. Four males and 11 females which were (36.0±10.5) years old in the experimental group, 6 males and 9 females which were (32.0±6.7) years old in the control group, were enrolled. In the experimental group, 3D digital simulated design was used to predict the post-treatment effect; and the final restorations were designed duplicating from the pre-treatment digital design confirmed by the patient and milled. In the control group, the final restorations were manufactured by the dental technician according to the design of two-dimensional (2D) digital smile design. The simulation degree of digital design and the similarity between preoperative design and postoperative rehabilitation were scored by the patients with visual analogue scales (VAS) in both groups; and the satisfaction rate to the restorations was evaluated by the patients. The quality of the restorations was accessed by a prosthodontist who did not know the grouping of patients according to the modified criteria of United States Public Health Service (USPHS).Results:Three-dimensional digital simulated design and implementation technique was successfully established. The VAS score on the simulation degree of digital design in the experimental group (8.5±0.5) was higher than that in the control group (7.2±0.7) ( P<0.01); the VAS score on the similarity between preoperative design and postoperative rehabilitation in the experimental group (9.6±0.3) was higher than that in the control group (7.0±0.9) ( P<0.01). The satisfaction rate of the patients to the restorations was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference of the quality of the restorations between the two groups on the anatomic form, the marginal adaption and the surface quality ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Three-dimensional digital simulated design and implementation technique can help achieving 3D digital simulated design before treatment and duplication to the final restorations, and can improve the patients′ satisfaction in esthetic rehabilitation.

In recent years, fibroblast activation protein (FAP) has emerged as an attractive target for the diagnosis and radiotherapy of cancers using FAP-specific radioligands. Herein, we aimed to design a novel ¹⁸F-labeled FAP tracer ([¹⁸F]AlF-P-FAPI) for FAP imaging and evaluated its potential for clinical application. The [¹⁸F]AlF-P-FAPI novel tracer was prepared in an automated manner within 42 min with a non-decay corrected radiochemical yield of 32 ± 6% (n = 8). Among A549-FAP cells, [¹⁸F]AlF-P-FAPI demonstrated specific uptake, rapid internalization, and low cellular efflux. Compared to the patent tracer [¹⁸F]FAPI-42, [¹⁸F]AlF-P-FAPI exhibited lower levels of cellular efflux in the A549-FAP cells and higher stability in vivo. Micro-PET imaging in the A549-FAP tumor model indicated higher specific tumor uptake of [¹⁸F]AlF-P-FAPI (7.0 ± 1.0% ID/g) compared to patent tracers [¹⁸F]FAPI-42 (3.2 ± 0.6% ID/g) and [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 (2.7 ± 0.5% ID/g). Furthermore, in an initial diagnostic application in a patient with nasopharyngeal cancer, [¹⁸F]AlF-P-FAPI and [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT showed comparable results for both primary tumors and lymph node metastases. These results suggest that [¹⁸F]AlF-P-FAPI can be conveniently prepared, with promising characteristics in the preclinical evaluation. The feasibility of FAP imaging was demonstrated using PET studies.