Objective:To understand the drug purchase behaviors and prescription flows of outpatients and their influencing factors. Methods: After selecting and investigating tertiary hospitals, secondary hospitals, community health service centers ( one per each level) in Beijing, Zhengzhou, Guangzhou, this paper uses structured question-naire method to analyze 3,155 valid questionnaires. A logistic regression analysis is performed to understand the fac-tors influencing the drug purchase behaviors. Results:The factors influencing the drug purchase behaviors of outpa-tients mainly include the region where the patient is, level of the hospital, type of health insurance that the patient has, frequency of drug purchase, etc. Conclusions: This paper suggests hospital administrators to take measures to improve prescription flows, such as reforming the health care insurance to make payment system more suitable for pharmacies standardizing supply channels in order to make varieties consistent between hospitals and pharmacies, strengthening education and publicity to raise the outpatients’ awareness for drug purchase outside of hospitals, etc.

Objective To summarize the clinical features,neuroimaging findings and pathological characteristics of demyelinating pseudotumors(DPT)of the brain,and to differentiate it from glioma. Methods The clinical features,neuroimaging findings and pathological characteristics of 35 patients with demyelinating pseudotumors of the brain were summarized,and the diagnosis for 18 of them was confirmed by bioscopy.Results Demyelinating pseudotumors affected adults of both sexes.The onset age of patients ranged from 9 to 69 years old.There was no definite antecedent,and the clinical syndromes were atypical. Neuroimaging scans showed multiple lesions in cerebral hemisphere,while the lesion in brain stem and spinal cord was single.The symptom and neuroimaging were not parallel.While with many or large lesions, the symptoms and signs were less.The lesions were not enhanced on CT scan,but appeared round or patch enhancement on MRI scan.Nine patients with DWI all appeared high density.The myelin basic protein was useful for diagnosis.The typical pathological changes were demyelination,perivascular inflammatory infiltration and reactive gliosis.The Creutzfeuldt cells were also found in these patients.The lesions might become small or disappear after treatment,but could not serve as the criterion to exclude brain neoplasm. Conclusions DPT is a distinct demyelination disease entity,which is confusable with brain neoplasm.It is difficult to distinguish DPT from brain neoplasm with the clinical features and conventional neuroimaging scan.But DWI scan is useful.The pathological changes accord with demyelination,and Creutzfeuldt cells are also found.It is important to apply corticosteroid treatment or biopsy rather than being anxious to excise the lesions.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of itraconazole oral solution for prevention of invasive fungal infection ( IFI ) in neutropenic patients with acute leukemia after chemotherapy.Methods Clinical data of 136 neutropenic patients with acute leukemia after chemotherapy at the Department of Hematology,Nanfang Hospital from January 2008 to December 2010 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were divided into itraconazole group ( n =67 ) and control group ( n =69).There were 36 patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia ( ANLL),31 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in itraconazole group;while in control group,there were 30 patients with ANLL,38 with ALL and 1 with biphenotypic acute leukaemia (BAL).Patients in itraconazole group received intraconazole after chemotherapy until the neutrophil count was increased to 0.5 × 109/L or the body temperature returned to normal and without any imaging evidence of IFI.The incidence of IFI and clinical features were compared between the groups using SPSS 13.0 software.Pearson x2 test was used for nominal variables,for measurement data,t (normal distribution) or Mann-Whitney U (skewed distribution) test were used.Results There were 12 cases ( 17.9％ ) suffering from IFI in itraconazole group and 32 cases (46.4％) in the control group (x2 =12.59,P ＜ 0.01 ).For ANLL patients,the incidence of IFI in itraconazole group was significantly lower than that in control group ( 16.7％ vs.56.7％,x2 =11.53,P ＜0.01 ).In itraconazole group,the incidence of IFI in female patients was significantly lower than that in male patients ( 8.6％ vs.28.1％,x2 =4.35,P ＜0.05 ).And for the female patients,the incidence of IFI in itraconazole group was significantly lower than thatin the control group (8.6％ vs.44.7％,x2 =11.98,P＜0.01).Conclusion Itranconzole oral solution can effectively prevent IFI in neutropenic patients with acute leukemia after chemotherapy,especially for the female patients with ANLL.

Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the miR-345 expression level in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)tissue and its potential clinical significance.Methods Real-time PCR was conducted to evaluate the expression of miR-345 in NSCLC tissues in 98 samples and cell lines.Then the association between tissue miR-345 expression level and clinical outcomes was further analyzed.Results The expression level of miR-345 was significantly decreased in NSCLC tissues and cell lines when compared to the controls(P<0.05).miR-345 expression level in NSCLS tissues was associated with various clinicopathological parameters including LN metastasis(P<0.001),distant metastasis(P=0.028),TNM stage(P=0.004)and grade(P=0.011).In addition,the NSCLC patients in the low miR-345 expression group showed significantly shorter overall survival time than that in the high miR-345expression group(P=0.021).Multivariate analysis showed that the expression of miR-345 was an independent risk factor for NSCLC(HR=3.897,95% CI:2.263~10.440;P=0.012).Conclusion The expression level of miR-345 was decreased in NSCLC tissues as well as cell lines compared with normal controls.Low miR-345 expression in tissues was associated with progression and poor prognosis of NSCLC.These results indicate that miR-345 may be a novel prognostic marker in NSCLC.

Objective To assess the efficacy of combination of Jiehe pellet and the standardized anti-tuberculosis therapeutic regimen for pulmonary tuberculosis complicating cervical lymph node tuberculosis in the aged. Methods A total of 103 aged patients with pulmonary tuberculosis complicating cervical lymph node tuberculosis were enrolled and randomly allocated to either a standardized anti-tuberculosis therapeutic regimen group (control group with 51 patients) or a standardized anti-tuberculosis therapeutic regimen plus Jiehe pellet group (treatment group with 52 patients). The patients in the control group and the treatment group received the treatment with 2HRZE/4HR and 2HRZE/4HR plus Jiehe pellet for 6 months, respectively. The abscessed lymph nodes were treated by either total excision or incision and drainage after 4 weeks of medicine treatment in both groups. Sputum smear was examined for acid-fast bacilli. The CD8 cells expressing natural killer T cells receptors NKG2A, NKG2D in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. The treatment outcome was measured at the end of treatment. Results The rates of lesion resolution (78.85%vs. 58.82%;χ2=4.439, P<0.05) and cavity closure (62.86% vs. 35.48%;χ2=3.893, P<0.05) in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group. In the end of 2, 4 and 6 months of treatment, cumulative rates of sputum conversion from positive to negative in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group (χ2 were 5.343, 5.067 and 4.118,all P<0.05). The CD8 cells expressing NKG2A after treatment in the treatment group were significantly lower than those before treatment in the treatment group (t=9.510, P<0.01) and after treatment in the control group (t=9.832, P<0.01);the CD8 cells expressing NKG2D after treatment in the treatment group were significantly higher than those before treatment in the treatment group (t=10.622, P<0.01) and after treatment in the control group (t=10.433, P<0.01). The serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-αafter treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment in both groups (t were 17.344 and 21.142 in the treatment group, 10.984 and 12.203 in the control group;all P<0.01 );the serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α after treatment in the treatment group were significantly lower than those after treatment in the control group (t were 7.832 and 5.478,all P<0.01). The serum IL-10 levels after treatment were significantly higher than those before treatment in both groups (t were 12.454 in the treatment group, 7.934 in the control group; all P<0.01 ); and the serum IL-10 level after treatment in the treatment group was significantly higher than that after treatment in the control group (t=4.720, P<0.01). The effective rate for cervical lymph node tuberculosis in the treatment was significantly higher than that in the control group (88.5%vs. 64.7%;χ2=6.855, P<0.01). Conclusion Combination of Jiehe pellet and the standardized anti-tuberculosis therapeutic regimen may improve immune function, increase the rate of sputum conversion from positive to negative, and facilitate lesion resolution in aged patients with pulmonary tuberculosis complicating cervical lymph node tuberculosis.

ObjectiveTo explore the causes for descending of the serum testosterone (T) in middle-aged and elderly men with metabolic syndrome (MS).MethodsFifty-six male patients aged between 45 and 83 years old were investigated.Blood pressure,height and weight were measured,and body mass index (BMI) was calculated.Biochemical indice in fasting state [ fasting blood sugar (FBG),total cholesterol (TC),triglycerides (TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ],fasting insulin (FIN),and the level of serum testosterone) were detected.An insulin resistance index (IR) was calculated using homeostasis model assessment (HOMA).Participants were divided into the MS group and the non-MS group according to CDS diagnostic standard.The relationships between the level of serum Testosterone and each index were analyzed.ResultsThe level of serum Testosterone was significantly lower in the MS group than that in the non-MS group [ (9.97 ± 3.87 ) nmol/L vs.( 13.73 ± 3.93 ) nmol/L,t =3.337,P ＜ 0.01 ].Multiple regression analysis showed that the level of serum testooterone was negatively correlated with age,waist circumference and HOMA-IR ( regression coefficients:- 0.214,- 0.329,- 0.317; standardized regression coefficients:- 0.730,- 0.597,- 0.313 ; t =- 5.833,- 4.681,- 2.686 respctively; P ＜ 0.01 ).ConclusionThe level of serum testosterone descends in middle-aged and elderly men with MS.The level of serum testosterone is closely related to age,waist circumference and insulin resistance

Objective To observe contents and effect of total flavonoids of acanthopanax senticosus extract on erythrocyte membrane fluidity.Methods The contents of total flavonoids of acanthopanax sentieosus were deter- mined by spectrophotometry,and erythrocyte membrane fluidity and microviscosity were measured by fluorescence polarization technique.Results The total flavonoids contents of acanthopanax senticosus extract and injection were alike.Both of them increased erythrocyte membrane fluidity and lowered microviscosity,and the effect of acan- thopanax senticosus injection was more significant.Conclusion Total flavonoids of acanthopanax senticosus can in- crease erythrocyte membrane fluidity,so that blood viscosity is lowered and hemorheology factors are improved.

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical characteristics and radiological manifestations of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome(IRIS)in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(AIDS)patients with tuberculosis(TB)during highly active antiretroviral therapy(HAART).MethodsThe clinical and radiological data in 4 AIDS patients with TB who presented IRIS were analyzed retrospectively.ResultsThe clinical presentations of IRIS in 4 patients included fever(4 cases),weakness and weight loss(3 cases),abdominal pain(2 cases),cough with sputum(1 case),dyspnea(1 case).Cervical and(or)supra-clavicular lymph node enlargement were seen in 3 patients,inguinal lymph node enlargement in 1 patient,abdominal lymph node enlargement in 1 patient,hilar or mediastinal lymph node enlargement in 2 patients,pulmonary parenchyma and liver were involved in 2 patients,the involvement of kidney,adrenal gland,mesentery,peritoneum,psoas,brain and cutis was respectively found in 1 patient.The clinical and radiological presentations of IRIS were temporary and self-limited,improvement can be seen with antituberculosis therapy and HAART. ConclusionsIt is possible to have IRIS during HAART in AIDS patients with TB.Imaging examinations play an important role in the early diagnosis,monitoting and evaluating the response to therapy of IRIS.

Sodium houttuyfonate (SH) is a derivative of effective component of a Chinese material medica, Houttuynia cordata, which is applied in anti-infection of microorganism. But, the antimicrobial mechanisms of SH still remain unclear. Here, we firstly discovered that SH effectively inhibits the three types of virulence related motility of.Pseudomonas aeruginosa, i.e., swimming, twitching and swarming. The plate assay results showed that the inhibitory action of SH against swimming and twitching in 24 h and swarming in 48 h is dose-dependent; and bacteria nearly lost all of the motile activities under the concentration of 1 x minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (512 mg x L(-1) same as azithromycin positive group (1 x MIC, 16 mg x L(-1)). Furthermore, we found that the expression of structural gene flgB and pilG is down-regulated by SH, which implies that inhibitory mechanism of SH against motility of P. aeruginosa may be due to the inhibition of flagella and pili bioformation of P. aeruginosa by SR Therefore, our presented results firstly demonstrate that SH effectively inhibits the motility activities of P. aeruginosa, and suggest that SH could be a promising antipseudomonas agents in clinic.
Alkanes ; pharmacology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Biofilms ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fimbriae, Bacterial ; drug effects ; genetics ; metabolism ; Houttuynia ; chemistry ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; cytology ; drug effects ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Sulfites ; pharmacology ; Virulence ; drug effects

Human tissue kallikrein-binding protein (Kallistatin, KAL), a secretory protein that participates in the regulation of multiple signaling pathways by binding to the extracellular receptor, however, at present has not been reported about the intracellular activity, and whether it has the similar biological activity with extracellular activity. Here we constructed no signal peptide KAL (NSK) into the adeno-associated virus vector to explore the intracellular activity of KAL. Both the endothelial cell and lung cancer cells could express KAL, but not secreted after rAAV2-NSK transfection. The proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were inhibited, but the apoptosis rate was not affected. The proliferation rates, mobility and tubule formation of all the three tested lung cancer cells, such as NCI-H446, NCI-H460 and A549, were inhibited to different extents. This cellular study not only confirmed the intracellular activity, but also suggested it may serve as a kind of "balance factor" in multi-targeted controlling, which may provide a new train of thoughts to explain the regulatory contradiction in PI3K-Akt signaling pathways by KAL.
Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Dependovirus ; Genetic Vectors ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Serpins ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection