AIM: To investigate the role of transferrin/transferrin receptor system in transferrin-bound Yb 2 (Yb 2Tf) uptake by U-87 MG cells and the effect of transferrin-bound and -free Yb 2 on proliferation of U-87 MG cells. METHODS: Cell culture and ICP-MS measurement of Yb 2. RESULTS: Yb 2Tf uptake by U-87 MG cells increased with the concentrations of Yb 2Tf, and reached saturation as the concentration in the incubation medium was raised to about 2 ?mol/L. Also, Yb 2 uptake by the cells increased with increase of the mole ratio (Yb 2: apoTf), reaching a maximum at 1.5 mole ratio. Yb 2Tf in 0.4 ?mol/L significantly inhibited proliferation of U-87 MG cells, however, 10 ?mol/L Yb 3+ had no significant effect on proliferation of the cells. CONCLUSION: The uptake of Yb 2 by U-87 MG cells might be mediated by transferrin/transferrin receptor system. Transferrin-bound but not transferrin-free Yb 2 could significantly inhibit proliferation of U-87 MG cells.

Objective:To correlate serum homocysteine (Hcy) level with psychiatric symptoms and social ability in patients with schizophrenia.Methods:A total of 143 patients with schizophrenia who received treatment in the Third Hospital of Quzhou from January 2018 to January 2020 were included in this study. They were randomly divided into abnormal Hcy group (Hcy ≥ 10) μmol/L, n = 46) and normal Hcy group (Hcy < 10 μmol/L, n = 97) according to different serum Hcy levels. Baseline data, the scores of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and the Substance Dependence Severity Scale (SDSS) were compared between the two groups. The correlation between serum Hcy level and psychiatric symptoms and social ability was analyzed using the Pearson correlation analysis. Results:PANSS total score and BPRS total score were (77.86 ± 8.37) points and (94.47 ± 9.36) points, respectively in the abnormal Hcy group, and (74.37 ± 7.94) points and (90.35 ± 9.26) points, respectively in the normal Hcy group. There were significant differences in PANSS total score and BPRS total score between the two groups ( t = 2.41, 2.47, both P < 0.05). SDSS total score was significantly higher in the abnormal Hcy group than in the normal Hcy group [(11.75 ± 2.38) points vs. (10.53 ± 2.28) points, t = 2.88, P < 0.05]. Pearson correlation analysis showed that serum Hcy level was positively correlated with PANSS positive subscale score ( r = 0.73, P < 0.001), general mental symptom score ( r = 0.43, P = 0.032) and PANSS total score ( r = 0.53, P = 0.027), but it was not correlated with PANSS negative symptom score ( P > 0.05). Serum Hcy level was positively correlated with BPRS excitement subscale score ( r = 0.42, P = 0.037) and hostility subscale score ( r = 0.37, P = 0.047), but it was not correlated with anxiety, blunted affect, unusual thought content subscale scores and BPRS total score (all P > 0.05). Conclusion:Serum Hcy level is correlated with psychiatric symptoms and social ability in patients with schizophrenia. The higher the level of Hcy, the more severe the psychiatric symptoms, and the higher the degree of social disability.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical effect of self-made Wenfei-Quyu-Huatan Decoction combined with conventional western medicine in the treatment of acute attack of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods:A total of 103 patients with acute attack of COPD who were admitted to our hospital from January 2018 to April 2019 were divided into control group (51 cases) and the intervention group (52 cases) according to the random number table method. The control group was treated with conventional western medicine, and the intervention group was treated with self-made Wenfei-Quyu-Huatan Decoction based on control group. Both groups were treated for 14 days. TCM syndrome scores were recorded before and after the treatment, the FVC, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC were detected by pulmonary function meter, the content of TNF-α, IL-8 and CRP in serum were detected by ELISA, and adverse reactions during the treatment were recorded and clinical efficacy was evaluated. Results:The total effective rate was 88.5% (46/52) in the intervention group and 70.6% (36/51) in the control group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( χ2=5.067, P=0.024). After the treatment, the TCM syndrome score of the intervention group was significantly lower than the control group (7.3 ± 0.9 vs. 12.9 ± 1.2; t=27.979, P<0.01); FVC (2.69 ± 0.35 L vs. 2.12 ± 0.24 L, t=9.621), FEV1 (1.58 ± 0.22 L vs. 1.13 ± 0.18 L, t=11.349) and FEV1/FVC (0.59 ± 0.07 vs. 0.53 ± 0.08, t=4.053) in the intervention group were significantly higher than the control group ( P<0.01); the serum IL-8 (51.48 ± 6.27 ng/L vs. 69.27 ± 7.32 ng/L, t=13.255), CRP (2.12 ± 0.46 mg/L vs. 3.51 ± 0.53 mg/L, t=14.223) and TNF-α (41.38 ± 6.22 ng/L vs. 52.24 ± 7.29 ng/L, t=8.139) level were significantly lower than the control group ( P<0.01). During the treatment, the incidence of adverse reactions was 11.8% (6/51) in the control group and 15.4% (8/52) in the intervention group, and there was no significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=0.321, P=0.571). Conclusions:The self-made Wenfei-Quyu-Huatan Decoction combined with the conventional western medicine can improve the clinical symptoms, lung function and reduce the level of inflammatory cytokines in patients with COPD acute attack.

Objective To understand the awareness level of iodine deficiency (ID) impairments and the attitude on edible iodized salt,and its consumption among doctors and nurses in cities,in order to provide scientific evidence for health education on iodine deficient disorders (IDD) in the future.Methods The questionnaire was self-designed,and spread through the web page of Wenjuanxing,an online server company,from May 6 to June 6,2017.At the end of the survey,a total of 481 valid questionnaires were reclaimed,in which ratio of gender was female 63.8％ (307/481),male 36.2％ (174/481).The data were analyzed by SPSS 22.0,including logistic regression analysis with backward according to the statistical significant level of P ＜ 0.05.Results Among doctors and nurses,90.4％ (435/481) knew ID impairments;72.8％ (350/481) answered intelligent disability as the most serious problem of ID;55.5％ (267/481)misunderstood that the areas in which they lived were not ID areas,although all cities surveyed were ID areas;41.0％ (197/481) of doctors and nurses misunderstood that coastal residents did not need to consume iodized salt.About the evaluation of iodine nutrition status of current population,15.6％ (75/481) of respondents judged as iodine excess.About consuming edible salt,76.3％ (367/481) selected iodized,9.6％ (46/481)non-iodized,and 14.1％ (68/481) both iodized and non-iodized.The results of logistic regression analysis showed the factors that prevents health care workers from choosing iodized salt were:"living in coastal areas","think him or her as iodine adequate","know that iodine deficiency can affect the development of children but still adhere to the consumption of non-iodized salt";the factors that promoted the choice of iodized salt for medical staff were "insist on buying iodized salt,and do not choose non-iodized salt",and 75.8％ (238/314)of them knew that intelligent disability as the most serious problem of ID.Conclusions Most doctors and nurses have high level of knowledge on ID and its control.But lack of information,as well as misunderstanding of "coastal areas iodine adequate" and worry about "excess iodine causes thyroid diseases and cancer",which would hinder the active consumption of iodized salt.Health education for them should be conducted through professional ways,stressing on the threaten of ID environment,sharing the information about national and local progress on control of IDD and iodized salt safety,and clarifying the relationship between iodine salt or iodine and thyroid cancer and nodules.