Objectives:To test the effect of continuous care on rural hypertension control , we developed a com-prehensive intervention strategy and implemented a community-based quasi-experiment in Southwestern rural China.Methods:The intervention took place in Qianjiang District , Chongqing Municipality from July 2012 to June 2014.4 towns were randomly selected and categorized into 2 groups based on a comprehensive consideration of population and social development level.All the rural hypertension patients in treatment group were intervened with the Multi-institu-tional Continuous Pathway which was consisted of three parts:the Continuous Primary-Care Pathway , the Continuous Clinical Pathway and the Continuous Management Pathway.The patients in the control group served as a blank com-parison using the usual care.Difference-in-differences Model was used to test the effect of blood pressure control in treatment group.Results:853 patients were sampled and investigated using the stratified randomly sampling strategy and 712 of them had been followed up by the end of this program.The potential bias of pilot and patient selection were eliminated through control before and after the intervention.The previous blood pressure trends showed no statis-tically significant difference between groups.The systolic blood pressure in treatment group declined by 10.156 mm-Hg ( P<0.001 ) compared to control group after intervention , and the blood pressure control rate had increased by 27.6% ( P<0.001 ).Other contributing factors besides intervention were family structure , education level and med-ical service availability.Conclusion:The continuous care pathway have a significant marginal positive effect on hyper -tension control besides the national compulsory primary care , and the control rate change of blood pressure is more sen-sitive compared to blood pressure change.The potential contributing factors show that other intervention strategies could be developed to improve the rural hypertension control by adding to the social capital of rural patient , reinforcing the health education and facilitating the village transportation.

Objective:To explore and test a blending prospective payment that suitable for integrated care delivery system in China.Methods:Referring to Accountable Care Organization and domestic reforms,it designed a performance-based and prospective global budget payment mechanism which mainly contained strategies as medical alliance contract,prepay by DRGs and performance-based management.Through a quasi-experiment,it tested its effects on controlling the inpatient spending and continuity of care.Results:There were 38 980 cases included from inpatient claims data out of 4 towns.194 medical records came from township and county hospitals.Compared to control group,the average hospitalization rate per capita every 5 months in treated group significantly declined by 0.08％,the likelihood of using upper level hospitalization significantly declined by 0.16％,and the continuity of care significantly increased by 33.80％.Global budget system would benefit decreasing hospitalization structure and improving medical collaboration.However,the effects of new model might be underestimated by the imperfect implementation of compulsory referral system.Conclusion:The medical alliances should center on combined objectives as stimulating medical cooperation and improving on quality of care.It should make the blending prospective payment decisions on basis of information-shared grading and referral medical system and empirical evidence.

The starting material L-tryptophan reacted with 4-chlorobenzaldehyde via Pictet-Spengler condensation and followed by oxidation and decarboxylation to afford the 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-beta-carboline. The intermediate was further reacted with alkyl halogenide by N(9)-alkylation and N2-quaternarization to obtain 12 novel 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-beta-carboline derivatives. The chemical structures of all target compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, MS and 1H NMR spectra. The antitumor activities of the target compounds were evaluated by MTT method. The results demonstrated that N2-quaternarized compounds enhanced the antitumor activity significantly. In particular, compound 15 was found to be the most potent compound with IC50 values lower than 5 micromol x L(-1) against 6 human tumor cells. These results confirmed that the N2-alkyl or aralkyl substituent on the beta-carboline ring played an important role in the modulation of the antitumor activities.

Objective To evaluate the effects of dexmedetomidine on the cellular immune function during analgesia with morphine after radical resection for esophageal cancer in the patients.Methods Sixty patients of both sexes,of ASA physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ,after radical resection for esophageal cancer under general anesthesia,were randomly divided into 2 groups (n =30 each) using a random number table:control group (group C) and dexmedetomidine group (group Dex).Patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) was performed immediately after operation in the two groups.In group C,the PCIA solution (150 ml) contained morphine 0.48 mg/kg.In group Dex,the PCIA solution (150 ml) contained morphine 0.48 mg/kg and dexmedetomidine 1 μg/kg.The postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were maintained ≤ 3.The consumption of morphine was recorded within 24,48 and 72 h after operation.The adverse effects such as nausea,vomiting,pruritus,bradycardia,hypotension,oversedation and respiratory depression were also recorded after operation.Before induction of anesthesia (T0),immediately after extubation (T1),and at 24,48 and 72 h after operation (T2-4),venous blood samples were obtained for determination of the levels of T-lymphocyte subsets (CD3+,CD4+,CD8+) and natural killer (NK) cells by flow cytometry.CD4+/CD8+ ratio was calculated.Results Compared with group C,the consumption of morphine within 24,48 and 72 h after operation and incidence of nausea,vomiting and pruritus after operation were significantly decreased in group Dex.The levels of CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/CD8+ ratio and NK cells were significantly lower at T1-4 than at T0 in the two groups.The levels of CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/CD8+ ratio and NK cells were significantly higher at T1-4 in group Dex than in group C.Conclusion Dexmedetomidine can improve the cellular immune function during analgesia with morphine after radical resection for esophageal cancer in the patients.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of dexmedetomidine and dezocine used to supplement awake tracheal intubation assisted by fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB) in elderly patients.Methods Sixty elderly patients aged 65-77 yr,of ASA physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ (Mallampati grade Ⅰ or Ⅱ),scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =20 each) using a random number table:dezocine group (group DEZ),dexmedetomidine group (group DEX) and dezocine combined with dexmedetomidine group (group DEZ+DEX).Dezocine 0.1 mg/kg was injected intravenously in group DEZ.Dexmedetomidine 0.4 μg/kg was infused intravenously over 10-15 min in group DEX.In group DEZ+DEX,dexmedetomidine 0.4 μg/kg was infused intravenously over 10-15 min,and dezocine 0.1 mg/kg was injected simultaneously.Laryngeal mucous membrane was sprayed with 2％ lidocaine for topical anesthesia during infusion in all the three groups.In addition,1％ tetracaine 3 ml was injected into trachea through cricothyroid membrane.Awake tracheal intubation was performed and assisted by FOB after the end of administration in all the three groups.Cardiovascular response (MAP or HR＞30％ of baseline values) and respiratory depression (SpO2＜90％ and RR＜8 bpm) were recorded during the period between induction of anesthesia and 3 min after intubation was completed.The intubation time was recorded.The tolerance of tracheal tube was assessed in the patients.At the time of topical anesthesia,when epiglottis came into view,immediately after tracheal tube was successfully inserted into trachea,and at 3 min after successful intubation,perfusion index and Ramsay sedation score,and patients' satisfaction with the sedation (Ramsay sedation score 2-4) were recorded.Results Compared with group DEZ or DEX,the tolerance of tracheal tube was significantly enhanced,intubation time was shortened,the rate of satisfactory sedation was increased,perfusion index and the incidence of cardiovascular response were decreased in DEZ+DEX group.There was no significant difference in respiratory depression among the three groups.Conclusion Dexmedetomidine and dezocine can provide better condition for awake tracheal intubation assisted by FOB than dexmedetomidine or dezocine alone in elderly patients.

AIM: To investigate the relationship among MCP-1 and monocyte chemoattract protein activity (MCA) and pathogenesis of lung cancer. METHODS: 173 patients were involved in the study and divided into three groups: group A: lung cancer group (60 patients); group B: benign lung disease group (55 patients) and group C: healthy control group (58 patients). MCP-1 level and MCA in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured. RESULTS: The concentration of MCP-1 and MCA in BALF in group A were much higher than those in group B and group C (P

Sustained activation of sympathetic nervous system in response to stimulation of a wide variety of stress factors is an independent risk factor for the development of essential hypertension. Adrenal hormone biosynthesis pathway as an important part of the sympathetic nervous system consists of hormones, neurotransmitters, receptors, and a variety of synthases and invertases. In this article, we have systematically reviewed research progresses made in elucidating the interactions between genes of the adrenal hormone biosynthesis pathway and stress factors in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension.
Animals ; Hormones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypertension ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sympathetic Nervous System ; metabolism ; pathology

The differentiation of periodontal ligament (PDL) progenitor cells is important for maintaining the homeostasis of PDL tissue and alveolar bone. Vitamin C (VC), a water-soluble nutrient that cannot be biosynthesized by humans, is vital for mesenchymal stem cells differentiation and plays an important role in bone remodeling. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the function and mechanism of VC in PDL progenitor cells osteogenic differentiation at the molecular level. We demonstrated that VC could induce the osteogenic differentiation and maturation of PDL progenitor cell without other osteogenic agents. During the process, VC preferentially activated ERK1/2 but did not affect JNK or p38. Co-treatment with ERK inhibitor effectively decreased the Vitamin C-induced expression of Runx2. ERK inhibitor also abrogated Vitamin C-induced the minimized nodules formation. PELP1, a nuclear receptor co-regulator, was up-regulated under VC treatment. PELP1 knockdown inhibited ERK phosphorylation. The overexpression of PELP1 had a positive relationship with Runx2 expression. Taken together, we could make a conclude that VC induces the osteogenic differentiation of PDL progenitor cells via PELP1-ERK axis. Our finding implies that VC may have a potential in the regeneration medicine and application to periodontitis treatment.
Ascorbic Acid ; pharmacology ; Butadienes ; pharmacology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Co-Repressor Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Nitriles ; pharmacology ; Periodontal Ligament ; cytology ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; metabolism ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Transcription Factors ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; drug effects

Objective:To explore the difficulties and methods of value-based pricing of healthcare services,and to provide references for the price management of healthcare services in China.Methods:Based on the analysis of literature and policy,the operational methods of value-based pricing are clarified,and the international application experience of value-based pricing is reviewed.Comprehensive field research and interviews are conducted to analyze the difficulties in applying value-based pricing to healthcare services.Results:Currently,there are no mature theories and methods for value-based pricing of healthcare services,and there are also many practical difficulties in financing,payment,assessment and evaluation policies.Conclusion:In the future,it should consider incorporating service experience into the value framework independently of utility,and take"service utility"as the basis for pricing healthcare services,and select relevant indicators for measurement.At the same time,the price of healthcare services should take into account the willingness to pay of multiple parties,and stakeholders need to work closely together to form a consensus on value.

Objective:Compared to pricing based on input value,pricing based on output can better motivate service outcomes towards expectations and enhance input-output efficiency.The path of outcome value-oriented pricing for healthcare services is explored to provide a theoretical foundation for the value-based pricing of healthcare services.Methods:The concepts,methods and international experience of value pricing are sorted out.Results:Outcome-based pricing in healthcare services is divided into effect and utility,and is classified into four categories based on the different emphasis on the effect and utility of healthcare services.Conclusion:Services with a strong emphasis on effectiveness can draw inspiration from the Quantified Quality of Life(QALY)results in the medical technology field,while services with a strong emphasis on utility may require the development of new utility scales for service evaluation.