Objective To study the cardioprotective function of Zhurihen dripping pills in experimental animals.Methods By hypoxia tolerance model and isoproterenol hydrochloride induced acute hypoxia model, measuring the time of death in mice.For rat serum LDH, CK, SOD and MDA were measured to observe protective effect of Zhurihen dripping pills on vasopressin-induced acute myocardial ischemia model.The effect of Zhurihen dripping pills on latency and durations were observed in acute arrhythmia induced by inhaled chloroform – epinephrine rabbits model.Results The hypoxia tolerance in mice and myocardial hypoxia tolerance significantly improved by Zhurihen dripping pill, and prolonged the survival time in mice.The serum level of LDH, CK, SOD and MDA significantly improved, and protected the impaired myocardial cell in rats.The latent period of arrhythmia was significantly prolonged and duration of arrhythmia was shortened in rabbits.Conclusion Zhurihen dropping pills an improve myocardial oxygen deficiency, anti-arrhythmia effect and protect myocardial cells.

Animals ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; cytology ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Swine

This paper presents an approach to GPU-based ray-casting of a shader model 3.0 compatible graphics card. In addition, a software toolkit is designed using the proposed algorithm to make the full benefit of GPU by extending VTK. Experimental results suggest that remarkable speedups are observed using GPU-based algorithm, and high-quality renderings can be achieved at interactive framerates above 60 fps. The toolkit designed provides a high level of usability and extendibility.
Algorithms ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Software Design

Objective To investigate the effect of prolonged stroboscopic illumination exposure on the growth of eyeball of guinea pig. Methods Thirty 2-week-old guinea pigs were randomized into three groups ( n=10 for each) . Two strobe-reared groups were raised with 20 Hz sinusoidal and 20 Hz square wave stroboscopic illumination, respectively. The control group received usual light illumination. The illumination intensity was 500 lux. All animals underwent refraction and biometric measurements prior to and after 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of treatment. Finally, flash electroretinograms were com-pared, and retinal microstructures were examined. Results There was a significant correlation between refractive errors and axial eye elongation, and myopia increasing was observed with eye elongation. After 8 weeks of treatment, the animals raised in 20 Hz sinusoidal and 20 Hz square wave stroboscopic illumination were (-0. 75 ± 0. 79)D and (-1. 50 ± 0. 91) D more myopic than the group raised in continuous illumination. The implicit time of the a-wave was delayed by 3. 8 and 7. 9 ms, respectively. No significant difference was found in retinal ultrastructures among the three groups. Conclusions Chronic exposure to 20 Hz sinusoidal or square wave stroboscopic illumination alters the emmetropization of the guinea pig eye to some extent.

Objective To investigate the antibiotic resistance and resistance genes of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceaes (CRE) isolated from 5 hospitals in Northeast China.Methods This study collected 85 CRE isolates during January 2013 to June 2015 from five hospitals in Northeast China.Drug sensitivities of 14 antimicrobial agents were determined by the broth microdilution method.The phenotypes of carbapenemases were screened by modified Hodge test and EDTA test respectively.The genotypes of carbapenemases and other extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) were detected by PCR gene amplification and DNA sequencing method.Using the PCR result as gold standard, the performances of other two carbapenemase detection methods were evaluated.Results Among the 85 CRE strains collected in this study, Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most frequently isolated species (61/85,71.8%).The results of antimicrobial agent sensitivity showed that the 85 CRE strains had resistance rate of cephalosporin and β-lactams/enzyme inhibitor (piperacillin-tazobactam) over 80.0%.The resistance rate of carbapenem was high, with ertapenem 100.0% (85/85), meropenem 65.9% (56/85), imipenem 71.8% (61/85).There were 36 isolates resistant to both meropenem and imipenem.For fluoroquinolones, the resistance rates of levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were 72.9% (62/85) and 65.9% (56/85), respectively.The resistance rate to fosfomycin and amikacin were 65.0% (55/85) and 54.1% (46/85), respectively.The resistance rate of colistin (21.2%, 18/85) and tigecycline (20.5%, 17/85) were low.Forty-nine strains were modified Hodge test positive and 12 strains were EDTA test positive.By PCR gene amplification and DNA sequencing method, 64 strains carried carbapenemase-encoding genes, of which KPC-2 was the main type (53/85, 62.4%), followed by IMP-4 (10/85, 11.8%), NDM-5 (7/85, 8.2%) and NDM-6 (1/85, 1.2%).At the same time, 85 CRE isolates had the ESBL gene detection and 47 isolates were CTX-M type ESBLs (47/85, 55.3%), with no TEM or SHV type.Conclusions Klebsiella pneumoniae is the majority of CRE strains from 5 large hospitals in Northeastern China.The CRE strains are resistant to most of antimicrobials.Most carbapenemases-producing isolates have the KPC-2 type.Nearly half of the carbapenemase-producing strains also carry ESBL genes, which makes the resistance mechanisms more complicated.

The complete chloroplast genome of medicinal plant Asarum caudigerum Hance and its close relative A. cardiophyllum Franchet were sequenced using Illumina Hiseq technology, and assembled, annotated, and characterized by bioinformatic methods in this study. Then phylogenetic analysis of the complete chloroplast genomes of A. caudigerum, A. cardiophyllum, and twelve published species was conducted. The results indicated that the chloroplast genomes ranged from 186 215-186 985 bp in length, with a large single copy (LSC, 89 445-90 169 bp) and two inverted repeats (IRa/IRb, 48 387-48 408 bp). The overall GC content was 37.4%-37.5%. A total of 144 chloroplast genes were annotated, including 98 protein coding genes, 38 tRNA genes and 8 rRNA genes. In addition, complex genomic rearrangements were detected in the chloroplast genome of Asarum. Meanwhile, visual evaluation of the discrete type of the sequence indicated that the variation level of non-coding region was higher than that of coding region. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that A. caudigerum and A. cardiophyllum were clustered into a single clade and A. cardiophyllum, A. sieboldii var. seoulense, A. misandrum and A. maculatum were clustered into another single branch. These two clade were sister species. This study provides a scientific basis for the identification, phylogenetic relationship, molecular breeding of Asarum species.

Abstract: Objective To explore the threshold of ALT for initiating antiviral therapy in HBV infected patients, and to provide a basis for initiating antiviral therapy in chronic HBV-infected patients. Methods This retrospective cohort study recruited 707 consecutive treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients undergoing diagnostic liver biopsy in the department of infectious diseases of the Affiliated Hospital of Yan′an University from October 2013 to August 2018. Liver biopsy specimens were obtained under ultrasound guidance using Menghini 16G disposable needles. The METAVIR scoring system, which is commonly used internationally, was used to divide the patients into the group with mild liver tissue injury and the group with significant liver tissue injury, and the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were measured separately. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Mann-Whitney U test were used to evaluate the diagnostic value of ALT for significant liver tissue injury under different demographic characteristics. Results Of 707 patients, 292 (41.30%) had significant liver tissue injury confirmed by liver biopsy (METAVIR ≥A2 and/or F2). When the ULN of ALT was set to NICE criteria (30 U/L for males, 19 U/L for females), AASLD criteria (35 U/L for males, 25 U/L for females) and EASL or APASL criteria (40 U/L for males and females), CHB patients with 30 years olds, 22 U/L for HBeAg negative and 31 U/L for HBeAg positive patients. Conclusions The threshold of ALT for initiating antiviral therapy in chronic HBV patients should be individualized, especially should be down-regulated for the females, olders and HBeAg-negative patients.

As an important inorganic element, iodine not only plays an important role in human growth and metabolism, but also has an irreplaceable role in the chemical engineering, medicine, food and other fields.Thus the detection of iodine ion is of important significance.In this work, colorimetric recognition and sensing of iodine ion with high sensitivity was proposed based on target induced shielding of the peroxidase-like activity of bare platinum nanoparticles ( PtNPs ).This assay exhibited simplicity and cost-effectiveness.The recognition of iodine ion by bare PtNPs could be fulfilled in a few seconds and the assay could be accomplished within 10 min.The detection range for iodine ion was 20 nmol/L-5.0 μmol/L and the detection limit was 8 nmol/L ( S/N = 3 ).Furthermore, the new assay system did not require surface modification of nanoparticles, nor complex organic synthesis.This assay was successfully applied to detection of iodine concentration in real salt and water samples, exhibiting promising application prospects.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEPercutaneous ultrasound-guided thermal ablation is one of the major treatment methods for liver cancer. Tumor location close to the diaphragm or gastrointestinal tract was regarded as the treatment contraindication before due to poor visibility of the tumor or increased risk of thermal injury to the adjacent organs. This study used artificial pleural effusion or ascites to extend the indications of thermal ablation for liver cancer.

METHODSArtificial pleural effusion (20 cases) or ascites (36 cases) was performed in 56 difficult cases of percutaneous thermal ablation for liver tumors. The technical success rates, the rate of approaching the procedure goal, complications, and local treatment response were assessed.

RESULTSThe technical success rates were 95% (19/20) for artificial pleural effusion and 100% (36/36) for artificial ascites, the achieve purpose rates were 100% (19/19) and 91.7% (33/36), the complete ablation rates were 84.2% (16/19) and 93.9% (31/33), respectively. Coughing, transient hematuria, and subcutaneous effusion were observed in 3 patients after the procedure of artificial pleural effusion, and hydrothorax in the right chest occurred in 1 patient during the artificial ascites process.

CONCLUSIONSThermal ablation with the use of artificial pleural effusion or ascites is a safe and effective treatment for liver tumors, and the technique can widen the indications of thermal ablation for liver tumors.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Ascites ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Cough ; etiology ; Female ; Glucose ; administration & dosage ; Hematuria ; etiology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Male ; Microwaves ; Middle Aged ; Pleural Effusion ; Ultrasonography, Interventional ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the efficacy and safety of Eviprostat for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSAn open, multicentral clinical trial was conducted in 100 patients with BPH. Patients received a 12-week oral administration of Eviprostat 2 tablets per-time, 3 times a day. The main indexes of efficacy include international prostatic symptom score (IPSS), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), residual urine ( Ru) and prostatic volume (V). The additional indexes are quality of life score (QOL) and average urinary flow rate (Qave).

RESULTSAfter a 12-week therapy, IPSS, QOL score, Qmax and Qave were significantly improved. IPSS was averagely decreased by 5.67 (P < 0.001); QOL score was averagely decreased by 1.44 (P < 0.001); Qmax was averagely increased by 1.70 ml/s (P <0.001); Qave was averagely increased by 1.15 ml/s (P < 0.001); Ru was averagely decreased by 5.07 ml (P = 0.046) , PSA level was averagely decreased by 0.129 microg/L (P < 0.017). The clinical adverse event rate was 1%.

CONCLUSIONEviprostat is a kind of safe, effective and preferable drug for treating BPH. It can improve the subjective symptoms and objective measures of the patients.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Drug Combinations ; Ethamsylate ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plant Extracts ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome ; Urodynamics