Bile acids (BAs) are a major component of bile salt, which plays a vital role in the metabolism of lipids in humans. Ninety-five percent of bile acids are recycled by the enterohepatic circulation (EHC), and therefore EHC is essential for bile acid homeostasis. There are four transporters that mediate the transmembrane transport of bile acids, each of which plays an important role in the enterohepatic circulation. Gene defects in bile acid transporters can lead to disorders of the enterohepatic circulation, ultimately leading to clinical phenotypes such as metabolic diseases and even death. Bile transporter expression is altered in patients with various metabolic disease states, suggesting that disruption of bile acid transporters may be a pivotal pathological mechanism for the development of metabolism diseases. Thus, many drugs targeting bile acid transporters are being developed. We provide a concise overview of the progress of bile acid transporters research, discuss the relationship between different bile acid transporters and disease development, and summarize the current progress in drug development targeting bile acid transporters.

Acupuncture clinical trials are designed to provide reliable evidence of clinical efficacy, and SCI papers is one of the high-quality clinical efficacy of acupuncture research. To analyze these papers published in high impact factor journals on acupuncture clinical trials, we can study clinical trials from design to implementation, the efficacy of prevention and cure, combined with international standard practices to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture. That is the core of acupuncture clinical trials, as well as a prerequisite for outstanding academic output. A scientific and complete acupuncture clinical trial should be topically novel, designed innovative, logically clear, linguistically refining, and the most important point lies in a great discovery and solving the pragmatic problem. All of these are critical points of papers to be published in high impact factor journal, and directly affect international evaluation and promotion of acupuncture.
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Humans ; Journal Impact Factor ; Research Design

Air ; analysis ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Styrenes ; analysis ; Workplace

AIM: To investigate the injuring effect of DMSO-soluble particles from cigarette smoke(DSP) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells. METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cell line EA. hy 926 was used as target cells in the study. The growth and viability of the cells treated with various dosages (1, 2, 4 or 4 mL/L) of DSP and low dose (2 mL/L) of DSP at different time points were evaluated by MTT colorimetric assay and celllular protein assay in 96-well plates. Transmission electron microscopy study was carried out to observe the ultrastructure of human umbilical vein endothelial cells under DSP treatment.RESULTS: DSP inhibited the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cell line EA. hy 926. Under DSP treatment, the reducing cellular protein and increasing cell death(mainly necrosis) were observed in time-dependent and dosage-dependent manners.CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that the toxic effect of DSP caused functional disturbance and structural damage of human endothelial cells.

Objective To investigate prognostic factors for bloodstream infection in adult patients. Methods Clinical data of 131 adult patients with positive blood cultures during January 2002 to December 2003 in the Hospital were collected and 91 cases of them were retrospectively analyzed to understand their pathogen species and prognostic factors for it.Results Blood samples from 91 patients were cultured positive,53 cases(58.2%)with gram-negative bacteria mainly including Escherichia coli,Salmonella spp. and Klebsiella pneumoniae,28(30.8%)with gram-positive bacteria,mainly including Staphylococcus aureus and coagnlase-negative Staphylococci,eight(8.8%)with fungi and two(2.2%)with multiple infections.Case fatality ratio in this group of patients with septicemia was 30.8% during their hospitalization,and that in those with Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Staphylococcus aureus,Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and E.coli with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase was over 50%.Case fatality ratio was associated with severity of sepsis(OR=1.15)and inappropriately initial empirical treatment with antibiotics (OR=6.77).Conclusions Pathogen causing bloodstream infection in adults were mainly gram-negative bacteria and severity of infection and inappropriate initial antibiotics treatment could increase their fatality.

Objective To investigate the safety and obtain parameters of microeoagulation of dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) of cervical cord with bipolar foreps on animal model,and provide histological base for clinical application of treatment of brachial plexus avulsiol pain using microcoagulation of dorsal root entry zone.Methods On the base of swine's weight and spinal cord size in similar to human being,it was chosen to be experimental animal.The right DREZs of cervical cord were microcoagulated with bipolar forceps.The swines were fed in normal way.Their activities were observed.The mass change of the cervical cord segment were observed after 3 weeks and the cervical cord segment was fixed with 10% fromalin,paraffin sliced,HE dying.Coagulating space,depth and width were measured under microsope.The coagulating parameter were adjusted according to measuring outcome in order to achieving a most avaliable parameter.Results All post-op swine survived.When the microcogulation were made with bipolar forceps adopted following parame- ters:The distance of between the polar was 2.0 mm;The diameter of polar was 0.3 mm.The inserting depth 2 mm,the coagulated power 18 watt,the coagulated time was 2 second,then the width of lesions of DREZ in cross section was 1.15 mm and the depth of lesions was 3.10 mm,which was consistent with the area of hu- man DREZ of cervical cord.Conclusion The experiment on swine suggested,microcoagulation of DREZ by bipolar forceps is safe and no mortal complications when the testified parameters are adoped,and can achieve the area of DREZ of cervical cord in human.

AIM:To investigate the differences among Lenstar 900, A-scan ultrasound and keratometer in measurement of axial length ( AL ) , anterior chamber depth ( ACD ) and corneal curvature ( K1 , K2 , Km ) , and evaluate the consistency of the instruments, with the purpose providing references for the clinical application of Lenstar 900.
METHODS: In this study we picked up 36 patients ( 50 eyes ) underwent cataract surgery, and lens nucleus hardness were under level IV. Before the operation, AL, ACD and K1 , K2 , Km were measured by Lenstar 900, A-scan ultrasound and keratometer respectively. The differences between the results were compared by the paired t-test. The correlation of the results was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis, and the consistency was measured by Bland-Ahamn method.
RESULTS: The mean AL and ACD values measured by Lenstar 900 and A-scan ultrasound had no significantly statistic differences (P>0. 05). The K1, K2, Km measured by Lenstar 900 and keratometer were not significantly statistical different (P>0. 05). The results measured by these three instruments had close linearity correlation ( r>0.9, P<0. 01). The consistency of the results was well in Bland-Ahamn analysis.
CONCLUSION:The preoperatively biometric result of Lenstar 900, A - scan ultrasound and keratometer in patients with cataract are all reliable, and they can be substituted by each other. However, Lenstar 900 can not only measure AL, ACD and corneal curvature at the same time, but also cornal thickness, lens thickness, white to white, pupil size, optical axis eccentricity, retinal thickness and so on. It has a number of advantages such as non-touching, convenient and efficient, and can be recommended to use widely.

Observed index is a very important element in a research design, because it is a specific reflection of the effects of research factors on the research subjects and is indispensable in any research. Generally, there are two types of observed indexes: the indexes that reflect natural attributes, habits or states of the research subjects and the indexes that reflect the effects of different drugs or treatments on research subjects. This article mainly introduces the definition, characteristics, selection and observation of research indexes and the major and minor indexes.

Objective To evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine administered locally on the median effective concentration ( EC50 ) of ropivacaine for paravertebral nerve block ( PVNB) . Methods Forty?eight ASA physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ female patients, aged 20-64 yr, with body mass index<24 kg∕m2 , scheduled for elective unilateral segmental mastectomy under PVNB, were randomly divided into 2 groups ( n=24 each) using a random number table: ropivacaine group ( group R) and ropivacaine mixed with dexmedetomidine group ( group RD) . PVNB was performed at T4 on the operated side guided by ultrasound and nerve stimulator. Ropivacaine 20 ml and a mixture of ropivacaine and 20 μg dexmedetomidine 20 ml were injected locally in group R and group RD, respectively. The concentration of ropivacaine was determined by up?and?down sequential allocation. The initial ropivacaine concentration was set at 0. 35%, and the ratio between the two successive concentrations was 1. 2. The EC50 and 95%confidence interval of ropivacaine were calculated using Dixon?Massey method. Results The EC50 ( 95%confidence interval) of ropivacaine was 0.27% (0.23%-0.30%) and 0.22% (0.18%-0.25%) in group R and group RD, respectively. Compared with group R, the EC50 of ropivacaine was significantly decreased by 19% in group RD. Conclusion Small dose of dexmedetomidine administered locally can significantly enhance the efficacy of PVNB with ropivacaine.

OBJECTIVE To study the analytic method for assaying of glutaral concentration by enzyme-labeled device at one time.METHODS Controlled solution of glutaral and sample solution were taken out and kept until the room temperature.Optical density value was detected at 450 nm.Content of sample was calculated by comparison with the known concentration of glutaral.RESULTS In the range of 0.75-2.50%,concentration of glutaral had linear relationship with the optical density value.Reproductive test:relative average error was within 2%,RSD≤2.51%;interference test:oxidation-resistant-sodium nitrite could make the result negative error.0.1% Sodium nitrite could make the test result decrease by 1.5% relatively.CONCLUSIONS The method is simple,fast and convenient,with accuracy which has met the requirement of hospital infection monitoring and acceptable interfering range made by additives,which is highly practical.