Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common chronic liver diseases. However, due to its complex pathogenesis, there are no officially approved drugs for NAFLD treatment currently. Therefore, it is extremely urgent to find safe and effective anti-NAFLD drugs. Nowadays, lipid-lowering drugs are the main option for NAFLD therapy, but the clinical efficacy of chemical drugs is also very limited, as well as the frequent side effects or adverse reactions. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has attracted more and more attention in the treatment of NAFLD due to its unique advantages through multiple targets and pathways with few side effects. In recent years, numerous studies have demonstrated that the imbalance of gut microbiota plays an important role in the occurrence and development of NAFLD. This review systematically summarizes the experimental and clinical evidences of TCM active compounds and TCM prescription involved in the regulation of intestinal flora in the treatment of NAFLD in recent years, so as to provide a reference for further exploring the pathogenesis of NAFLD and exploring TCM treatment methods.

Objective To investigate the expressions of Transforming Growth Factorβ2 (TGF-β2) and Smad3 in human gliomas associated with pathologic grading. Methods The expressions of TGFβ2 and Smad3 protein were detected with SP immunhistochemistry in 80 human glioma specimens. The Kapan-Meier survival curves of progression-free survival time and overall survival time in different expression levels was compared with log-rank. Results The expression of TGFβ2 and Smad3 correlated with the pathological grading (r=0.545, r=0.570, P<0.01). Both progression-free survival time and overall survival time were significantly different between low expression group and high expression group (P<0.05). Conclusion Both TGF-β2 and Smad3 correlate well with the occurrence and differentiation of human gliomas,which help for the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis judgment．

Objective To discuss the diagnosis and treatment of renal pelvic carcinoma associated with renal stone.Methods A total of 13 patients,aged from 49 to 73 years old and averaged 59years old.The history of renal stone was 16 years.13 patients accepted B ultrasound check and 1 was found soft tissue occupying.8 patients accepted IVU check and none was found soft tissue occupying.7 patients accepted CT scan and 4 were found soft tissue occupying.The fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) examination was done for 2 patients and both were positive.6 patients were found lesions at renal pelvis mucous membrane during the operation of percutaneous nephrolithotripsy,4 accepted radical operations of renal pelvic carcinoma and 2 patients accepted radical nephrectomy according to the biopsy pathology.4 were found soft tissue occupying before operation and accepted radical operation of renal pelvic carcinoma ultimately.1 patient suffered gross hematuria and renal insufficiency accepted the renal pelvic carcinoma vaporization under the ureteroscope.Results The pathology showed that 7 cases were transitional cell carcinoma,4 were transitional cell carcinoma combined squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) metaplasia and 2 were squamous cell carcinoma.6 of 8 patients' stone chemical composition were infection stone and 2 were calcic blended stone.3 patients were followed up 1 to 2 years and survival with no tumor recurrence.The tumor recurred 10 months of the patient accepted the operation of renal pelvic carcinoma vaporization and accepted vaporization again.1 patient bsuffered SCC and local lymph node metastasis.He died 13 months post-operation.Conclusions For the patient who had long history of stone,combining infection with symptoms of severe hematuria and postoperation hematuria,the possibility of renal pelvic carcinoma should be considered.CT scan and urine FISH may help for diagnosis.The biopsy should routinely perform for the doubtful mucosa lesion during the cavity stone operation.Early and timely diagnosis and operation is the key for the patients with pelvic carcinoma associated with renal stone.

Objective:To investigate variety pattern of expression level of TCRV?subfamilies in mononuclear cell in spleen tissue of rats with dampness pathogenic factors and normal rats by using FQ-PCR technique. Methods:32 SD rats were divided into four groups: normal group, external dampness group, internal dampness group, external and internal dampness group. Observing period was 20 days. 3 Rats were randomly selected from each group in order to exam the TCRV? subfamilies expression level. Results:The expression of TCRV?1, TCRV?7, TCRV?9 and TCRV?13 in external dampness group were higher than those in normal group (P

Humans ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis* ; Death, Sudden/etiology*

AIMTo set up an artificial neural network system and optimize by genetic algorithm (GA) to predict drug bioavailability.

METHODSGenetic algorithm was used to optimize weights of the artificial neural network. The optimal solution of the artificial neural network model at a specific condition was obtained using the good search ability of genetic algorithm in order to predict drug bioavailability. Volume, refractivity, lgP(c), hydration, polarizability, E(HOMO) and E(LUMO) are inputs of the drug bioavailability prediction neural network, and its output is average drug bioavailability.

RESULTSThe prediction precision of average drug bioavailability of the GA- neural network model is 95.9%.

CONCLUSIONThis model can be used in the forecasting of drug bioavailability.

Algorithms ; Biological Availability ; Neural Networks (Computer)

Objective To investigate the effects of antihypertension and reversing left ventricular hypertro- phy by carvedilol or bisoprolol in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.Methods 40 cases of mild to moderate essential hypertension patients were selected for this random single-blind,paralleling controlled clinical study.Results Patients were randomized to take 12.5～25mg carvedilol tablet orlce daily or bisoprolol 2.5～5mg once daily if DBP was still in the range of 12.0～14.6kPa(90～110mmHg)after 2 weeks' placebo baseline. Carvedilol group included 20 cases,bisoprolol group included 20 cases,and the course was 24 weeks.Blood pressure and heart rate were measured and symptoms and signs were recorded.At the end of placebo and in 24 weeks heart ultrasound,blood routine,serum glucose,blood lipid,hepatic function and renal function were examined.SBP,DBP and heart rate of patients in two groups decreased obviously.There were significant differences between the two groups.Ventricular hypertrophy of carvedilol group improved than that in pretherapy.There were significant differ- ences between the two groups.Conclusion Carvedilol was well-tolerated with less side effects such as mild headache,tiredness,dizziness,slightly elevating of serum glucose.Carvedilol could well treat the mild moderate essen- tial hypertension effectively and safely by 12.5～25mg once daily.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of some parameters in predicting of growth peak height velocity (PHV) of the girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) by histomorphological studying on iliac crest cartilage.

METHODSIliac crest cartilages were harvested during posterior surgery from girls with AIS. The samples were then paraffin embedded after stored in formalin solid over 24 hours, sectioned vertical to the calcification at the thickness of 5 microm, and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin. The histological grading of the proliferating activity of it was observed under the microscope. Parameters included chronologic age, menarche status, wrist skeletal age, digital skeletal age, elbow epiphysis and Risser sign were recorded. The histological grading data were compared with these parameters in terms of their accuracy in the prediction of PHV of the scoliosis.

RESULTSThe specimens of 53 AIS patients with an average age 14.0 years were stained successfully. The proliferating activity of the iliac crest cartilage decreased when the AIS girl was over 13.0 years of chronologic age, 14.0 years of wrist skeletal age, post menarche or Risser sign was no less than grade 3.

CONCLUSIONSAll the parameters evaluated can be used to show the end of PHV. Three parameters, including 11 years old of chronologic age, 12 years of the wrist skeletal age, unfusion of the elbow epiphysis and the thelarche, can be used in predicting the beginning of PHV.

Adolescent ; Age Determination by Skeleton ; Age Factors ; Cartilage ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Ilium ; pathology ; Menarche ; Scoliosis ; pathology ; physiopathology

BACKGROUND: In the treatment of unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis, unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) has the advantages of less blood loss, less trauma, quick recovery, maximum retention of bone mass, low cost, few complications and high patient satisfaction. However, it has not been extensively accepted by orthopedic surgeons. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the clinical effect and imaging changes of UKA versus total knee arthroplasty(TKA)in the same patient with bilateral unicompartment knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: A total of 38 patients with bilateral unicompartment knee osteoarthritis undergoing UKA and TKA were selected, and all the cases were performed by the same surgeon. Among them, 10 cases were replaced at the same time, and 28 cases were in staging surgery. The clinical data of the patients were collected, including the preoperative and postoperative Knee Society Score sores, the range of motion of the knee, and limb alignment, and postoperative complications. Comparison between bilateral knee joints was conducted by paired t test. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) All patients were followed up for 3-36 months, and no aseptic prosthesis loosening, unexplained pain or other complications occurred. (2) The postoperative Knee Society Score sores in UKA and TKA were significantly higher than those before surgery, and the scores did not differ significantly between UKA and TKA at each time point (P > 0.05). (3) The range of motion of the knee in the UKA group was significantly larger than that in the TKA group at the last follow-up postoperatively (P < 0.05). (4) The limb alignment was improved in both groups, which showed no significant difference at different time points (P > 0.05). (5) Totally 20 patients felt preference for UKA, 18 patients preferred TKA, and most patients were satisfied with the surgical efficacy. (6)There were no significant differences in the Knee Society Score, range of motion of the knee, hip-knee-ankle angle and femorotibial angle at the last follow-up between staging and same time arthroplasties. (7)These findings imply that for patients with bilateral unicompartment knee osteoarthritis, both UKA and TKA can correct the lower limb force line, correct the limb alignment similarly, but UKA holds advantages in less trauma, high patient's satisfaction, and good functional recovery, so it should be selected firstly. Notably, staging or same time surgery makes no effect on the clinical effectiveness.