Objective To further investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the preventive effect of Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) on type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) in NOD mice. Methods In order to explore the gene expression profiles of NOD mice′s islet cells treated with APS, cDNA microarray technique was applied. Results In APS group 5.47% gene expressions were obviously changed, 28 genes up-regulated, 35 genes down-regulated, and of which, 17 genes were functionally related to immunity. Conclusion The preventive effect of APS on type 1 diabetes in NOD mice is probably related to the action of APS in correcting the imbalance of Th 1/Th 2 cytokines.

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.Although the use of aggressive immunosuppression has improved both patient and renal survival over the past several decades,the optimal treatment of LN remains challenging.The therapeutic strategy and progress for patients with lupus nephritis are based on the accumulative evidences of the medicine,and must be personalized according to the patient condition.This paper discusses established and newer treatment options for LN.We also emphasize the challenges in the day-to-day management of lupus nephritis in the clinical practice.

Objective To evaluate the safety and feasibility of retroperitoneal laparoscopic excision of pheochromocytoma. Methods Retroperitoneal laparoscopic excision of pheochromocytoma was performed on 20 patients with pheochromocytoma (group A).At the same period, 20 patients with pheochromocytoma undergoing open surgery served as controls (group B).Intraoperative blood pressure, heart rate, plasma noradrenalin (NE) concentration,operative time, volume of blood loss, cases receiving blood transfusion, postoperative activity out of bed days, postoperative hospital stay,were compared between the 2 groups.The NE concentration was determined using RP-HPLC-ECD. Results The operations were successful in all the patients. Intraoperatively,3 cases (15.0%) in group A and 12 cases (60.0%) in group B experienced acute fluctuation in blood pressure,heart rate and pulse [maximum blood pressure,220/110 mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa) vs 210/115 mmHg; minimum blood pressure,88/57 mm Hg vs 85/60!mm Hg;maximum heart rate,122/min vs 120/min, respectively].The NE concentratioo correspondingly fluctuated from the maximum 16.82 ng/ml to the minimum 6.28 ng/ml (normal reference,0.32 ng/ml) (P

Objective To explore the effect of prevention of hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) with hyperhydration, forced diuresis and alkalinizing plus infusion mesna. Methods 32 cases of patients receiving HSCT were included in this study. 2 cases of severe aplastic anemia (SAA) received total body irradiation (TBI)+cyclophosphamide(CTX)(TBI-CTX) regimen,and the remaining 30 patients were using the classic busulfan+CTX (BU+CTX) regimen. All patients were treated with mesna combined with hydration, forced diuresis and alkalization to prevent HC. Ganciclovir and acyclovir were used to prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) and other viral infections and monitor CMV-IgM levels of the blood. Encourage patients to urinate every hour, testing urine pH value and the calculation of urine output, every 6 h review and testing of urine routine,central venous pressure (CVP), each of 8 h of serum electrolytes. Results Only 1 patient at 6 months after transplantation appeared delayed grade Ⅱ HC after hydration, alkalization, diuretic, hemostatic, anti-graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and ganciclovir antiviral therapy. The HC patients cured at 35 d. The remaining patients did not suffer HC. Adverse effects such as acid-base balance disturbance did not appear clear. Conclusion Mesna joint hydration, forced diuresis and alkalization was effective and safe to prevent HC.

Objective To investigate the action mechanism of blood-stage treatment that affects psoriasis vulgaris using observation of the Th17/Treg expression.Methods A total of 32 patients ( blood heat group,n =17 ; blood stasis group,n =15) and 15 healthy people ( control group,n =15 ) were observed.The frequencies of Th17 and Treg in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometric analysis in patients before and after treated by heat-clearing and blood-cooling decoction,qi-enriching and blood-activating decoction.Results The ratio of Th17/Treg in peripheral blood [ blood heat group (4.21 ± 0.52 )％ ;blood stasis group( 3.32 ± 0.43 )％ ] was significantly increased in patients compared with controls [ ( 1.79 ±0.18)％ ] ( P ＜0.01 ).After herbal treatment,the ratio of Th17/Treg expression in the blood heat group [ ( 2.41 ± 0.22 ) ％ ] and in blood stasis group [ ( 2.02 ± 0.12 ) ％ ] was significantly decreased ( P ＜ 0.05 ),respectively.Conclusions Blood-stage treatment works well on Th17/Treg expression in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

Objective To explore the expression of discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) in rats with pulmonary fibrosis induced by paraquat (PQ) poisoning, and its relationship with the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Methods 120 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into control group and 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg PQ poisoning groups (each n = 30). Pulmonary fibrosis induced by PQ poisoning model was reproduced by one time administration of 20, 40, 80 mg/kg of 20% PQ, and the rats in control group were given 4 mL normal saline. Fifteen rats in control and different doses of PQ groups were sacrificed at 7 days and 21 days after intragastric administration, and lung tissues were collected. Pulmonary fibrosis was observed after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The immune-histochemical method was used to determine the expressions of DDR1 and TGF-β1. The relationship between the expression of TGF-β1 and DDR1 was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. Results The rats in control group were active, and no pathological changes in lung tissue were found. The rats in PQ groups became shortness of breath, bristles, and slow reaction etc. 0.5 hours after intragastric administration. After 7 days, the lung tissue was dark red, hard texture, appearance of yellow soil fiber nodules and obsolete hemorrhage, destruction of alveolar structure. The extent of lung injury increased gradually with the time of poisoning and the increase of PQ dose. It was shown by immune-histochemical staining that the control group had only a small amount of DDR1 and TGF-β1 positive expressions; in PQ groups, there were a large number of DDR1 and TGF-β1 positive expression particles in the alveolar wall, pulmonary interstitial and alveolar cavity. It was displayed by quantitative analysis that compared with the control group, DDR1 and TGF-β1 expressions were significantly increased in 20, 40, 80 mg/kg PQ groups with time- and dose-dependent [DDR1 (integral A value): 0.221±0.014, 0.249±0.021, 0.364±0.016 vs. 0.121±0.036 at 7 days; 0.247±0.025, 0.321±0.015, 0.432±0.027 vs. 0.139±0.021 at 21 days; TGF-β1 (integral A value): 0.230±0.016, 0.265±0.015, 0.339±0.016 vs. 0.129±0.032 at 7 days; 0.248±0.011, 0.295±0.016, 0.399±0.026 vs. 0.119±0.026 at 21 days; all P < 0.05]. It was shown by Pearson correlation analysis that DDR1 expression was positively correlated with TGF-β1 expression with the increase of PQ dose and poisoning time (DDR1 with TGF-β1: r = 0.996, P < 0.000; DDR1 with PQ dose: r = 0.985, P < 0.000; DDR1 with poisoning time: r = 0.989, P < 0.000; TGF-β1 with PQ dose: r = 0.992, P < 0.000; TGF-β1 with poisoning time: r = 0.972, P < 0.000). Conclusions The expression of DDR1 in the lung tissue in PQ poisoning rats showed a time- and dose-dependent change, and it was positively correlated with TGF-β1 expression. DDR1 may be involved in the process of pulmonary fibrosis induced by PQ poisoning.

Objective:To analyze the rationality of off-label drug use in nephritic syndrome prescriptions to provide scientific basis for clinical rational drug use and further regulate the off-label drug use in our hospital. Methods:Totally 1 908 outpatient prescriptions of nephritic syndrome selected from our hospital during November 2014 to April 2015 were analyzed, and all the off-label drugs were listed . The rationality of the off-label drug use was analyzed and evaluated by searching the related kidney disease guidelines and litera-tures. Results:The off-label drug use of tacrolimus capsules, mycophenolate mofetil capsules, cyclophosphamide for injection, ciclos-porin soft capsules, dipyridamole tablets, hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets and warfarin sodium tablets were recommended by domes-tic and overseas guidelines with better evidence of evidence-based medicines. Tripterygium glycosides tablets and leflunomide tablets were supported by the literatures on clinical studies at home and abroad. The above 9 kinds of off-label drugs were rational drug use. Lumbrokinase enteric-coated capsules, salvia miltiorrhiza and ligustrazine injection and pidotimod dispersible tablets were reported only by a handful of journals. Bacteria lysate capsules and boric acid powder had no related information support, which belonged to the em-pirical prescriptions of physicians. The above 5 kinds of off-label drugs were not rational drug use. Conclusion:It is a widely existing phenomenon that the medication in nephrotic syndrome is beyond the instruction, the most of off-label drug use are reasonable, and cli-nicians should prescribe medicines carefully. Our hospital needs to further standardize the management of off-label drug use supported by higher evidence in order to improve the level of clinical rational drug use and the reasonable rate of prescriptions.

Objective To investigate the learning curve of minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass ( MIDCAB) via left anterior small thoracotomy. Methods We retrospectively reviewed results of a consecutive series of 80 patients underwent MIDCAB via left anterior small thoracotomy performed by a single surgeon.The patients were divided into 4 groups ( group A, B, C, D, n=20 in each group) according to the sequence of the operation.The left internal mammary artery ( LIMA) harvesting time, anastomosis time, total operative time, the drainage volume of the first day postoperation, mechanical ventilation time, hospital stays postoperation, in-hospital morbidity and mortality were compared.The learning curve was assessed by means of regression analysis with logarithmic curve fitting. Results The basic clinical characters were similar in all groups before the operation.The operations were accomplished successfully in all the 80 cases.No intraoperative conversion to sternotomy, death, or perioperative myocardial infarction happened.The LIMA-harvesting time in the group B, C, and D was significantly shorter than that in the group A [(53.7 ±19.2) min, (50.2 ±17.7) min, and (43.2 ±10.3) min vs.(77.0 ±30.0) min, P =0.001, 0.000, and 0.000].There was no difference between group B and C, B and D, C and D in the LIMA-harvesting time (P>0.05).The total operative time in the group B, C, and D was significantly shorter than in the group A [ (128.7 ±21.7) min, (129.0 ±33.3) min, and (112.2 ±14.5) min vs. (165.2 ±41.8) min, all P=0.000], without difference between the group B and C, B and D, C and D (P>0.05).The learning curve models were obtained: LIMA-harvesting time ( min) =113.77 -16.869 × ln ( operation number); total operative time (min)=220.281 -25.276 ×ln (operation number). Conclusion MIDCAB via left anterior small thoracotomy is safe and effective, with a learning curve of approximately 20 cases.

An 18-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital for swelling of the right lower limb and vulva with milky-white vesicles for 3 years.Skin examination revealed swollen and enlarged right lower limb and labium,numerous clustered or scattered pinhead-to millet-sized whitish thick-walled vesicles over the right labium majus,bilateral labium minus,vaginal orifice,and right thigh,with milky-white chylous fluid draining from the vagina.Magnetic resonance imaging revealed obvious lymphangiectasia in the lower abdominal cavity and right side of the pelvis,dilation and distortion of lymphatic vessels in the skin and subcutaneous tissue of the right inner thigh,the vaginal wall and at the medial side of the right labium majus,but no abnormality in the uterus.Histopathological examination of the milky-white vesicles showed cystic dilation of lymphatic vessels in the superficial dermis,and fibrous hyperplasia of the middle and lower dermis.A diagnosis of primary chylous reflux syndrome Ⅰ was made.

Objective To investigate health equity status of urban dwellers with different social stratification and provide evidence for health promotion.Methods 1,007 urban dwellers were surveyed in Zhejiang province in a stratified sampling based on their income,occupation and education,with their health equity analyzed.Results The proportion of urban dwellers to participate in social health insurance reached 97.5％,a proportion of statistical significance (P＜0.05).The two-week prevalence rate and two-week attendance rate of urban dwellers of different social stratification has no significant difference,but the rate of sickness without attending was significantly negatively correlated to social stratification.The proportion of no visiting because of poverty was 23.1％ in the lower social class,3.2％ in middle and lower class,and 0％ in the middle and upper class,a difference being statistically significant (P＜0.001).The outpatient clinic of first choice and ranking of the hospital was positively correlated to social stratification.Conclusion There is health inequity for urban dwellers with different social stratification,for which the government should pay more attention to lower social class.