Objective To discuss the clinical features and related factors of psychosis in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and assess the prevalence of psychosis.Methods A total of 82 patients with Parkinson's disease and 69 healthy controls were evaluated by Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and neuropsychiatric questionnaire.For the PD group,the age at PD onset,type and dose of PD medications,and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) were recorded.Unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS,parts Ⅱ and Ⅲ) and Hoehn-Yahr staging were used for the evaluation of the severity of motor dysfunction,Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) for emotional state,montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) for cognition,and scales for outcomes in Parkinson's disease-SLEEP (SCOPA-SLEEP) for quality of sleep.Results The prevalence of psychosis was 36.59％ in PD patients and 2.90％ in the control group.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P＜ 0.001).Among the 30 PD patients with PD psychosis meeting the NINDS/NIMH criteria,patients experienced illusions,false sense of presence,hallucinations and delusions was 22.0％,14.6％,29.3％,and 7.3％,respectively.Univariate analysis showed that age,levodopa equivalent dosage,SCOPA-SLEEP scores,and prevalence of RBD were significantly higher in thePDP group [(71.1±6.18),(628.7±283.2),(15.3±7.28),60.00％] than in the PDNP group [(66.6±9.25),(461.1±317.2),(9.7±7.64),28.85％] (all P＜0.05).Multivariate analysis showed that Hoehn-Yahr staging was a protective factor (OR =0.039,95％ CI:0.004-0.402),while sleep disorder was a risk factor (OR=1.157,95％CI:1.015-1.320).The PD patients with more psychotic symptoms were much older and with higher SCOPA-SLEEP scores,which had a statistically significant difference (P =0.0042,P =0.0112).Conclusions The prevalence of psychosis is much higher in PD patients than in healthy controls.PD psychosis is correlated with older age,larger levodopa equivalent doses,higher SCOPA-SLEEP scores,and prevalence of REM sleep behavior disorder.

Malignant tumor is one of the main causes for death in the world at present as well as a major disease seriously harming human health and life and restricting the social and economic development. There are many kinds of reports about traditional Chinese medicine patent prescriptions, empirical prescriptions and self-made prescriptions treating cancer, and prescription rules were often analyzed based on medication frequency. Such methods were applicable for discovering dominant experience but hard to have an innovative discovery and knowledge. In this paper, based on the traditional Chinese medicine inheritance assistance system, the software integration of mutual information improvement method, complex system entropy clustering and unsupervised entropy-level clustering data mining methods was adopted to analyze the rules of traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions for cancer. Totally 114 prescriptions were selected, the frequency of herbs in prescription was determined, and 85 core combinations and 13 new prescriptions were indentified. The traditional Chinese medicine inheritance assistance system, as a valuable traditional Chinese medicine research-supporting tool, can be used to record, manage, inquire and analyze prescription data.
Drug Prescriptions ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy

Objective To investigate the effects of output power,action time and radiofrequency(RF) needle on the cool-tip radiofrequency ablation(RFA) by experimental tools and to determine the value of ultrasonography in size evaluation of RFA zone.Methods The cool-tip RFA to fresh calf liver were monitored by ultrasound.The experiments by single electrode needle were performed with different combination of output power (80 W,120 W) and time (5 min,8 min,10 min).The cluster needle was used for assessment at 5 min with different output power(80 W,120 W).After the end of trial,the longitudinal specimens were cut open.The view and size of the ablation zone were recorded with naked eyes.The pathological changes displayed by optical microscope were recorded as well.Results The measurement of ablation zone with naked eyes showed with the ablation zone expanded with time in 80 W-power cases,but the pace of expansion slowed down,but in 120 W-power cases,expansion of the ablation zone was not obvious; the ablation zone in 120 W-power was bigger than that in 80 W-power at 5 min,their difference decreased with time,and the ablation zones were similar at 10 min.The cluster needle can produce ablation zone with lesser aspect ratio than that of single electrode needle,consequently similar to circle.Ultrasonic measurement of the ablation zone had real discrepancy.Most of longitudinal diameters were greater than the real ones,while in large ablation lesions,vertical diameters were often less than the real ones.Under optical microscope,no change could be found in shape and structure of the cells in ablation zone.Conclusion The output power and performing time have impact on ablation.The high-power output increased heat production as well as reduction of heat conduction.Compared with single electrode needle,the cluster needle produced ablation zone closer to real hepatic tumor,thus has more reliable effect to small hepatocellular carcinoma with diameter around 2 cm.The ultrasond has a great significance in RFA guidance,but it could not accurately define the border of ablation zone.

BACKGROUND: It has been proved that the application of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) combined with Brucea Javanica oil emulsion can accelerate wound healing and inhibit scar formation.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of bFGF plus Brucea Javanica oil emulsion cream on accelerating the skin wound healing of rabbits.DESIGN: A randomized controlled observation.SETTING: Center of Biotechnological Research and Development, Jinan University; College of Pharmacy, Jinan University.MATERIALS:The experiment was carried out in the College of Pharmacy, Jinan University from June to September in 2004. Eight Beijing big-ear white rabbits (4 males and 4 females) of 2.0-2.5 kg were provided by the experimental animal center of Southern Medical University (certification number: SoKx-2002-010). bFGF sterile freeze dried powder agent,provided by Guangzhou Changsheng Gene Pharmaceutical Co.,Ltd (batch number: 20040219; specific activity was 6 000 U/bottle), was prepared to solution with water for injection before application. Brucea Javanica oil emulsion (manufactured by Zhejiang 999 Bang'erkang Pharmaceutical Co.,Ltd.) was provided by Professor Yao from staff Room of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University.METHODS: The rabbits were anesthetized and disinfected, 5 round wounds with diameter of 1.8 cm and area of 2.54 cm2were induced from front to back by bilateral incision at 1.5 cm from middle spine of rabbit. The 5 wounds of each rabbit were randomly divided into bFGF-treated group (90 U/cm2), bFGF+Brucea Javanica oil emulsion group [the wound was smeared with Brucea Javanica oil emulsion (30 mg/cm2) 30 minutes after bFGF (90 U/cm2)], Brucea Javanica oil emulsion treated group [the wound was smeared with Brucea Javanica oil emulsion (30 mg/cm2)], blank emulsion group (30 mg/cm2) and blank control group (the wound was smeared with saline). The medication was give immediately after injury, and changed once a day for 16 days. At 4, 8, 12 and 16 days after injury, the wound areas were recorded with the method of hyaline membrane tracing (the wound was covered with clean saran wrap, the size of wound was traced,and then sheared to be weighed, and converted to calculate the area), and the volume of wounded cavity was measured by infusing water. At 8 and 16 days, the wound tissue was removed, stained after routine tissue sections, and the conditions of growth of granulation tissue and reepithelization on the wound surface were observed.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The wound area, volume of wounded cavity, and the conditions of growth of granulation tissue and reepithelization on the wound surface were obviously at different time points after injury in each group.RESULTS:All the 8 rabbits were involved in the analysis of results. ① Wound areas at different time points in each group: The wound areas in the bFGF+Brucea Javanica oil emulsion group at 4, 8 and 12 days after medication were smaller than those in the blank control group at corresponding time points [(2.05±0.35), (1.59±0.25), (0.55±0.25) cm2;(2.53±0.30), (2.41±0.19), (1.09±0.34) cm2, P＜0.05-0.01]. The wound areas in the bFGF group at 8 and 12 days after medication were (1.71±0.31) and (0.51±0.10) cm2, which were significantly smaller than those in the blank control group at corresponding time points (P＜0.05-0.01). ② Volume of the wounded cavity in each group: The wound volume in the bFGF group at 4 days after injury was markedly smaller than that in the blank control group at corresponding time point [(0.49±0.12), (0.59±0.1) mL, P＜0.05]. The wound volumes in the bFGF+Brucea Javanica oil emulsion group at 4 and 8days after injury were significantly smaller than those in the blank control group at corresponding time points [(0.47±0.12), (0.30±0.08) mL; (0.59±0.1), (0.41±0.07) mL, P＜0.05, 0.01]. ③ Growth of granulation tissue and reepithelization on the wound surface in each group: At 8 days after injury, the inflammatory reaction was milder and fibroblasts proliferated significantly in the bFGF+Brucea Javanica oil emulsion group, and the numbers of capillary plumules and fibroblasts were significantly more than those in the blank control group. The conditions in the blank control group and blank emulsion group were generally the same that there were severe inflammatory reactions, obvious increase of granulation tissue, fewer new capillaries, and unobvious proliferation of epidermic cells. At 16 days after injury, the contraction and reepithelization on the wound surface were obvious, and the new epithelia went towards the wound center rapidly in the bFGF+Brucea Javanica oil emulsion group.CONCLUSION : The application of Brucea Javanica oil emulsion plus bFGF can obviously accelerate the repair of incised wound on the back of rabbits.

Aim: To investigate a new type wound dressing,basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF)/collagen com-posite sponge,and conduct its pharmacological studies in vitro and in vivo.Methods: bFGF/collagen composite sponge was prepared using fresh pig skin and bFGF.The sponge's physicochemical properties were studied.MTT assay was used to detect the proliferation effect of the sponge extract on 3T3 cells.Delayed allergy of the sponge was tested for the assurance of its biosafety.Results: Results showed that the physicochemical properties of bFGF/collagen composite sponge with high and low doses of bFGF have no significant difference from those of blank collagen sponge.SDS-page analysis indicated that the composite sponge has apparent strip in 18 kD.It was also found that bFGF/collagen composite sponge was responsible for significant effects on 3T3 cell proliferation in comparison to saline treatement(P <0.01,P <0.05).In the allergy study,during the periods of the induction and stimulation,no allergic reaction was found in bFGF/collagen composite sponge groups with high and low doses of bFGF,while severe reactions and inflammation occurred in positive group(2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene).Furthermore,pathological examination indicated the intact dermal structure and no sign of inflammation.Conclu-sion: The developed sponge has good physicochemical propertis and noticed cellular proliferation without dermal irritation.There is much potential to develop bFGF/collagen composite sponge into a new kind of wound dressing material for clinical use.

Bioimprinting is a new developed technique to improve the characteristics of enzymes.Bioimprinting by lauric acid was conducted to improve the esterification activity of lipase PS in sol-gel immobilization process with methyltrimethoxysila(MTMS) and tetramethoxysila(TMOS) as the precursors.Results generated by checking the esterification activity and scanning electron microscope showed that bioimprinting can enhance the specific activity and thermal stability of lipase PS.The bioimprinting system was optimized by orthogonal experiment,and the optimal condition for lipase bioimprinting is water/silane molar ration(R) 12,polyethylene glycol(PEG) 120?l,and lauric acid 0.15 mmol.Compared with the free enzyme and the non-imprinted enzymes,the specific activity of imprinted enzymes has been improved 44.3 fold and 2.4 fold,respectively.Imprinted lipase show better thermal stability,and the relative activity is 58% after incubated in 80 ℃ for 0.5 h,while no activity was detected for the free enzyme.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the aberrance of histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN).

METHODSIn 15 patients with IgAN and 15 healthy volunteers, H3K4me3 variations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were analyzed using chromatin immunoprecipitation and microarray analysis (ChIP-chip). ChIP real-time PCR was used to validate the microarray results. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was carried out to examine the correlations between the mRNA expression profiles and H3K4me3 levels.

RESULTSWe identified 83 genes that displayed significant H3K4me3 differences in IgAN patients compared with healthy subjects. Among them, 39 genes showed increased H3K4me3 and 44 genes had decreased H3K4me3 levels. The results of ChIP real-time PCR were well consistent with the microarray data. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed the correlations between the mRNA expressions and the methylation levels of H3K4me3.

CONCLUSIONIgAN patients have significant alterations in H3K4me3, and the genes with aberrant H3K4me3 may provide insights into the pathogenesis of IgAN.

Case-Control Studies ; CpG Islands ; genetics ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; genetics ; metabolism ; Histones ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Lysine ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male

OBJECTIVETo explore the protective mechanism of acupuncture on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

METHODSFifty Wistar rats were randomly divided into a sham-operation group, a model group, a Jiaji group , a Neiguan group and a Yanglingquan group, 10 rats in each group. The model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury was duplicated by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery (LADCA) in the later four groups, and the LADCA was not ligated in the sham-operation group. The rats in the treatment groups were treated with electroacupuncture at "Jiaji" (EX-B 2), "Neiguan" (PC 6) and "Yanglingquan" (GB 34) on both sides, respectively, once a day for 7 days. No interventions were produced in the sham-operation group and model group. Myocardial apoptosis were examined by the TUNEL method. The expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were measured by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSApoptosis index(AI) was significantly lower in the Jiaji group, Neiguan group and sham-operation group compared with model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the sham-operation group, AI were significantly increased in other groups (all P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in AI between Jiaji and Neiguan group (P > 0.05). Compared with the model group, the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly increased and Bax protein was significantly decreased in Jiaji group and Neiguan group (both P < 0.01). The expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were significantly increased in other groups compared with the sham-operation group (all P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins between Jiaji and Neiguan group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at both Jiaji (EX-B 2) and Neiguan (PC 6) has protective effects on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, and the mechanism is closely related to inhibiting myocardial apoptosis by adjusting the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardium ; cytology ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To investigate serum levels of soluble matrix lysin 2 (sST2) in patients with different stages of heart failure and its relationship with prognosis. Methods Data of 300 patients with heart failure of stages A, B, C and D were included in this study. Thirty-three cases of healthy elderly population for physical examination were used as control group. The general information, echocardiography and related biochemical tests containing sST2 and NT-proBNP were collected in the two groups. The survival periods of patients were evaluated according to the Seattle heart failure mode (SHFM). Patients were followed up for 1 year to record the occurrence of adverse events. Results The sST2 level was higher in heart failure group than that of control group. The sST2 level began to increase in stage B, and which increased with the development of cardiac function staging. The sST2 levels were significantly higher in stages B, C and D than those of stage A, and which were significantly higher in stage D than those of stages B and C (P<0.05). There were significantly higher incidence rates of adverse events, left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in the patients with high sST2 level than those of patients with lower sST2 level (P<0.05). Values of sST2, NT-proBNP, LVEDD and LVMI were significantly higher, and values of LVEF and SHFM life expectancy were significantly lower, in patients with adverse events than those of patients without adverse events (P<0.05). There was a negative correlation between sST2 and LVEF, and positive correlation between sST2 with NT-proBNP, LVEDD and LVMI (P<0.05). The size under ROC curve, which was used to predict the cardiovascular endpoint events judged by sST2 was 0.665 (95％CI:0.574-0.757, P<0.01), and the one by NT-proBNP was 0.790 (95％ CI: 0.731-0.848, P<0.01). The best cut-off value of predicting the clinical adverse events was 139.27μg/L by sST2 and 855.35μg/L by NT-proBNP. Conclusion The serum level of sST2 is early indicator of heart failure, which not only reflects the severity of ventricular remodeling but also is one of indicators to estimate the prognosis of heart failure in one year.

OBJECTIVETo explore the possible factors causing the increase of rabies cases and to provide references for the development of related prevention and control strategy in Hunan.

METHODSData was collected and analyzed on epidemic situation of rabies in the past ten years, and studies were carried in some counties.

RESULTSFrom 1994 to 1999, the annual cases sustained between 17 and 78. However, the number of cases has continued to increase since 2000. The annual reported cases in 2001 and 2002 were 311 and 313, and accounted for 34.8% and 30.0% of the total cases in the whole country respectively. The epidemic areas were mainly located in the south and middle parts of Hunan. Furthermore, the epidemic areas had been expanding. In 1997, human rabies cases were only reported in 7 cities but increased to 12 cities in 2004.

CONCLUSIONFactors as increasing number but low inoculating rate to dogs, and incorrect treatment on the wounds etc. might have served important roles for the recurrence of rabies. Hence, it is necessary to take comprehensive preventive measures to control and prevent the epidemics of rabies in Hunan.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rabies ; epidemiology