Objective To investigate the role of transforming growth factors(TGF-?1 and ?2) in the pathogenesis of scleroderma(SD). Methods The mRNA expression of TGF-?1 and ?2 in the skin lesions from 17 patients with SD and skin from 10 normal controls were detected with in situ RT-PCR technique. Results A higher positive rate and stronger expression of TGF-?1 mRNA in SD skin lesions were seen, compared with those in controls(P0.05).The higher positive rate and stronger expression of TGF-?1 mRNA than TGF-?2 mRNA in SD were seen(P

Objective:To investigate oxidative modification of β2-glycoprotein Ⅰ in vit ro.Methods:Rat β2-glycoprotein Ⅰ was purified and characterized,then oxidize d by hypoxanthine plus xanthine oxidase as a supreroxide free radical generating system;carbonl groups of β2-glycoprotein Ⅰ were detected by the reaction w ith 2,4-dinitrophenylhudrazine.Results:There was a significant increase of carbonyl groups formation in β2- glycoprotein Ⅰ oxidized in comparison with native β2-glycoprotein Ⅰ (P <0.05). Conclusion:Carbonyl groups have been formed in vitro on rat β2-glycoprotein Ⅰ after oxidative modification using hypoxanthine plus xanthine oxidase system.

With the rapid development of biotechnology such as NGS and proteomics , bioinformatics has seen an explo-sion in diversity and complexity in terms of data , tools and demands .The traditional computing environment , including ded-icated workstations and virtual machines , are no longer suitable under such circumstances .As a rising container technolo-gy, Docker, which is characterized by light weight , openness and security ,has provided an innovative solution to analysis and processing of biological big data and attracted increasing attention from bioinformatics developers and users .Consider-ing the demands and features of development , deployment and application of bioinformatics tools in the age of big data , this paper analyzes the advantages of Docker in this field , introduces some actual cases and discusses current deficiencies and future improvement .

Objective :To determine the weight coefficient and optimize the steaming technology of decoction pieces of Scrophularia ningpoensis (SN). Methods The contents of harpagide, harpagoside, aucubin, acteoside, angoroside C, and cinnamic acid were simultaneously determined by HPLC. The weight coefficient of each component was evaluated by AHP-entropy (analyitc hierarchy process) method. With composite score as index, D-optimal response surface methodology was adopted to investigate the effects of soaking time, steaming time, and drying temperature on the quality of processed products and optimize the processing technology of decoction pieces of SN. Results :Optimal processing parameters were as follows: soaking time was 15.63 min, steaming time was 85 min, drying temperature was 60 ℃, and the synthetical mark was 97.20. Considering the actual situation, the optimum processing technology of SN was obtained by fine-turning the soaking time. The soaking time was 15 min, the steaming time was 85 min, and the drying temperature was 60 ℃. Also, the synthetical mark were 98.53, 99.39, 98.86, and its RSD was 0.47% through the obtained conditions in parallel with three batches of samples. Conclusion: The optimized steaming technology is simple and feasible, which can provide a reference for the steaming of decoction pieces of SN. The method established to simultaneously determine the contents of six components in decoction pieces of SN is rapid and reliable for controlling the quality of decoction pieces of SN.

AIM: To compare the volatile oils of Lonicera macranthoides Hands-Mazz. from three plantation. METHODS: The volatile oil of L. macranthoides Hands-Mazz. was studied by GC-MS. RESULTS and CONCLUSION: The volatile oil in three different samples contained 26 kinds of same components: such as Linaiool, Geraniol, a-Terpineol, 1-Octen-30ol,3-Henen-1-ol and so on. The content of Linaiool was the highest which was 15.17%, 28.85% and 31.88% in L. macranthoides Hands-Mazz. from Longhui County, Xupu County and Xinning County.

This study investigated the ability of millimeter-wave (MMW) to promote the differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) into cells with a neural phenotype. The BMSCs were primarily cultured. At passage 3, the cells were induced by beta-mercaptoethanol (BME) in combination with MMW or BME alone. The expressions of nucleostemin (NS) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) were detected by immunofluorescent staining and Western blotting respectively to identify the differentiation. The untreated BMSCs predominately expressed NS. After induced by BME and MMW, the BMSCs exhibited a dramatic decrease in NS expression and increase in NSE expression. The differentiation rate of the cells treated with BME and MMW in combination was significantly higher than that of the cells treated with BME alone (P<0.05). It was concluded that MMW exposure enhanced the inducing effect of BME on the differentiation of BMSCs into cells with a neural phenotype.

Objective To explore the effect of the rational-emotive-behavior therapy (REBT) on mood, cognition and activities of dailyliving (ADL) of patients with poststroke depression (PSD). Methods 80 PSD patients were divided into control group (n=40) and observationgroup (n=40). Both groups were given Prozac (20 mg/d) for 8 weeks, and the observation group received REBT (3 times per week, 20min every time) additionally. Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Barthel Index(BI) were evaluated before and after treatment. Results After 8-week treatment, the scores of HAMD in two groups reduced significantly(P<0.01), and the scores of MMSE and BI increased significantly (P<0.01). The scores of HAMD were lower in the observation group thanin the control group (P<0.05), and the scores of MMSE and BI were higher in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05). TheBI score was related with sleeping disorder in control group (P<0.05). The BI score was both related with sleeping disorder and somatizationin the observation group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the extent of effectiveness on depression between two groups(P>0.05), but there was the trend that the efficacy of the observation group was better than the control group. Conclusion REBT combinedwith antidepressant drugs can better relieve the symptoms of depression and improve cognitive function and ADL of PSD patients. The improvementof somatization and sleep disorders by REBT has a relationship with the enhancement of ADL.

Diabetic kidney disease （DKD） is a chronic kidney disease caused by diabetes， influenced by genetic and environmental factors and their interaction. It is the primary cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease. Recent studies have found， as a natural isoquinoline alkaloid， berberine （BBR） has hypoglycemic， hypolipidemic， antioxidant， anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties， thus protects against kidney injury in DKD. The mechanisms of action of BBR may involve improving glucolipid metabolism， reducing oxidative stress， alleviating inflammatory responses， mitigating renal fibrosis， regulating DNA methylation， promoting mitochondrial function and modulating the gut microbiota to enhance gut metabolism and clearance. This article systematically reviews the current status of research on the mechanisms of BBR in the treatment of DKD and provides reference for future clinical application of BBR in the treatment of DKD.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effects of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) with degenerative scoliosis.

METHODSFrom March 2009 to March 2014,121 patients undergoing PKP for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) with degenerative scoliosis were retrospective analyzed. There were 41 males and 80 females,ranging in age from 56 to 92 years with an average of 73.2 years. Preoperative and postoperative 3 d respectively pain visual analogue scale (visual analogue score, VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index assessed pain and functional recovery of patients and preoperative and postoperative 3 d lumbar lordosis, scoliosis Cobb angle were analyzed.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 6 to 24 months, with a mean time of 11 months. All the patients achieved success in operation without serious complications. The operation time ranged from 30 to 65 min with an average of 42.2 min. Local leakage of bone cement was not found in canal. The VAS and Oswestry Disability Index at the 3rd day after operation decreased significantly compared with those of the preoperative (P < 0.05), and the lumbar lordosis and scoliosis Cobb angle also improved significantly compared with those of the preoperative (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPercutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for the treatment of thoracolumbar scoliosis osteoporotic fracture can significantly improve patients spinal deformity, pain relief, which is worth of recommending.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; surgery ; Humans ; Kyphoplasty ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; surgery ; Scoliosis ; surgery ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Visual Analog Scale

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are members of a class of immune-suppressive molecules that regulate the strength and range of immune responses to avoid normal tissue damage. However, immune checkpoint activity can be stimulated by tumors to es-cape immune surveillance. To elicit anti-tumor effects, immune checkpoint inhibitors can promote the activation of T cells by blocking immune checkpoint proteins. Therefore, these inhibitors can be efficiently and safely used to treat solid tumors. Although the clinical usage of these inhibitors is in the initial stage, they have exhibited good efficacy and safety in lymphoma treatment. This review sum-marizes the biological activities of CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1 and the application of antibodies as drugs for lymphoma treatment.