Knowledge Discovery in Databases is gaining attention and raising new hopes for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) researchers. It is a useful tool in understanding and deciphering TCM theories. Aiming for a better understanding of Chinese herbal property theory (CHPT), this paper performed an improved association rule learning to analyze semistructured text in the book entitled Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica. The text was firstly annotated and transformed to well-structured multidimensional data. Subsequently, an Apriori algorithm was employed for producing association rules after the sensitivity analysis of parameters. From the confirmed 120 resulting rules that described the intrinsic relationships between herbal property (qi, flavor and their combinations) and herbal efficacy, two novel fundamental principles underlying CHPT were acquired and further elucidated: (1) the many-to-one mapping of herbal efficacy to herbal property; (2) the nonrandom overlap between the related efficacy of qi and flavor. This work provided an innovative knowledge about CHPT, which would be helpful for its modern research.

AIM:To discuss the related factors that affected the stability of posterior corneal surface after laser in situ keratomileusis ( LASIK) .
METHODS:About 64 patients (64 eyes) were enrolled. The correlation among the changes in posterior corneal surface 6 month after LASIK, surgery method, corneal flap thickness ( FT ) , ablation thickness ( AT ) , postoperative residual corneal stroma thickness ( RCST ) , preoperative thinnest corneal thickness ( CT ) , flap thickness/preoperative thinnest corneal thickness ( FT/CT ) , ablation thickness/preoperative thinnest corneal thickness ( AT/CT) , postoperative residual corneal stroma thickness/preoperative thinnest corneal thickness ( RCST/CT) , anterior and posterior preoperative corneal height, the difference of the forward shift in posterior corneal surface ( diff value ) of preoperative and preoperative intraocular pressure were analyzed.
RESULTS: The changes of diff value between preoperative and postoperative were related with diopter (r=0.419, P=0.014), AT (r=0.394, P=0.023), AT/CT (r=0.501, P=0.004), Diff value of preoperative (r=0.501, P=0. 004), RCST (r=-0. 385, P=0. 033) and RCST/CT (r=-0. 401, P=0. 025). The changes of height value from posterior corneal surface between preoperative and postoperative were related with diopter (r=0. 520, P=0. 002), AT (r=0.504, P=0. 003), AT/CT (r=0. 442, P=0. 013), Diff value of preoperative (r=0. 624, P=0. 000) and RCST/CT (r=-0. 394, P=0. 028).
CONCLUSION: AT, RCST, AT/CT, RCST/CT and diff value of preoperative should be the key index that predicted the stability of posterior corneal surface after LASIK,the further research will give the range of safety value.

Atrioventricular Block ; chemically induced ; Child ; Humans ; Male ; Mercury Poisoning ; complications

Objective Determination of polysaccharide content in dried peel seeding watermelon, and its mechanism of lowering blood glucose.Methods The content of polysaccharides in dried peel of seeding watermelon was determined by the method of phenol-sulfuric acid.Mice were given starch and sucrose load,and the mouse blood glucose was examined.The inhibitory activities of seeding watermelon against α-glucosidase were tested by the colorimetry of pNPG.Results The calibration of polysaccharide was A=0.066 4 C+0.022 6, R2=0.999 5, the content of polysaccharide in dried peel of seeding watermelon was 4.45% (n=10,RSD=1.80%);50,100 and 150 mg·kg-1 of polysaccharide could significantly reduce the starch load in mice blood glucose(P<0.01);100 and 150 mg·kg-1 of polysaccharide significantly reduced sucrose load blood glucose(P<0.01);polysaccharide concentration in 18 mg·mL-1 could significantly inhibit the activity of α-glucosidase as the inhibitory rate was (73.19±3.45)% (n=10).Conclusion Seeding watermelon polysaccharide has effect on lowering blood glucose in starch and sucrose load mice, and inhibits α-glucosidase significantly.

Objective To investigate the expression of lymphotoxin-β and its receptor in the skin of a mouse model of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD).Methods BALB/c female mice at 6 to 8 weeks of age were randomly divided into the experiment group (n =15) and normal control group (n =10).Topical 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB,0.5％) was used to establish a model of ACD in the experiment group followed by challenge with DNFB (0.2％) at the right external ear on the 6th day.The normal control mice remained untreated.The right external ear was resected from all of the mice 24 hours after the challenge and divided into 2 parts for the measurement of mRNA and protein expressions of lymphotoxin-β and lymphotoxin-βreceptor by fluorescence-based real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry,respectively.Results The median mRNA expression levels of lymphotoxin-β and lymphotoxin-β receptor were 3.630 and 1.148respectively in the experimental mice,with the interquartile range being 1.187 and 0.617 respectively,and were both 1.000 in the control mice with the interquartile range being both 0.000.There was a significant difference between the experimental and control group in the mRNA expression levels of lymphotoxin-β and lymphotoxin-β receptor (P ＜ 0.01 ).Immunohistochemistry showed a significant increase in the expression of lymphotoxin-β and lymphotoxin-β receptor proteins in the experimental group compared with the control group (P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusion There is an increment in the mRNA and protein expressions of lymphotoxin-β and lymphotoxin-β receptor in the lesions of ACD in mice.

Objective To explore the influence of seasonal variations on acute cerebral infarction outcome. Meth-ods We collected data from acute cerebral infarction patients in the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from January 2009 to February 2012. All cases were classified by months and seasons into different groups to analyze the season-al variations retrospectively. Results (1) The percentage of good outcome of acute cerebral infarction show significant dif-ference between each month(P<0.01). The percentage of good outcome was highest in August(92.1%), lowest in Decem-ber(78.1%), second lowest in April(81.9%). The percentage of good outcome in summer(91.6%)was higher than spring (87.2%), autumn(86.4%)and winter(83.9%)(P<0.05). (2) Among those patients converted to bad outcome more pa-tients was attacked by cerebrovascular accident in winter(68.3%)than in summer(43.2%), and more patients was combined with a pulmonary infection in winter(69.5%)than in summer(48.6%)and in autumn(49.3%)(P<0.05). (3) Seasonal effect in acute cerebral infarction outcome was obvious in those≥65 years of age(P<0.05). Conclusion Seasonal changes are associated with the outcome and severity of acute cerebral infarction.

AIM:To explore the expression and possible function of histamine H3 receptor (H3R) in striated myogenesis and the differentiated C2C12 cells.METHODS: H3R and myogenesis late marker myosin heavy chain (MHC) were detected at mRNA and protein levels during C2C12 myogenesis.H3R antagonist ciproxifan was added and the expression of the myogenesis early marker desmin, intermediate markers myogenin and MHC was detected.Differentia-ted myoblasts were loaded with Fluo-4 calcium indicator dye and the effect of R-( a)-methylhistamine ( RMeHA) on the cy-toplasmic calcium concentration was determined under the 200 mA electrical stimulation.RESULTS: The expression of H3R and MHC was increased during myogenesis.Ciproxifan incubation had no influence on the 3 striated myogenesis mar-kers (P>0.05).In C2C12 myoblasts, RMeHA (10 nmol/L~100 μmol/L) effectively diminished cytoplasmic calcium peak when the cells were electrically paced (P<0.05).The best inhibitory effect of RMeHA was observed at dose of 100 nM for 10 min and 20 min, which was higher than that for 5 min (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: H3R might have little effect on the myogenic differentiation, but diminishes cytoplasmic calcium peak of the differentiated myoblasts under electri-cal stimulation.

Abstract?AlM:To analyze of the clinical features of acute retinal pigment epitheltis ( ARPE) .?METHODS: The clinical data of 36 ARPE patients ( 40 eyes) attending this center from January 2008 to January 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. Of them, 21 patients (58.3%) were male (male :female=1:0. 71). The mean age was 40. 92±7. 13 years old (range:17~60y). The mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0. 50±0. 26 with a range of 0. 3 ~ 1. 0. Thirty-two patients were unilateral cases. All the patients were examined for BCVA, funds photography, fluorescein fundus angiography ( FFA ) , optical coherence tomography ( OCT) . FFA was shown as three types: type ▏ to multiple black light or grape variety fluorescent spot; Type II for l lesions visible fluorescence leakage; Type Ⅲ lesions with choroid neovascularization ( CNV ) . OCT was the following three forms: multiple RPE lesions layer reflection intermittent, proliferation ( type ▏); pigment epithelial detachment with limitations neural epithelium ( typeII);types l and ll with CNV ( type Ⅲ) .?RESULTS: Ocular fundus showed that the lesions were multiple dark-gray spots with a dark circumscribed area at the macular or nearby in all 40 eyes. FFA showed:21 eyes were type ▏, 17 eyes were type II and 2 eyes were typeⅢ, BCVA between type ▏ and type II was statistically significant (P<0. 05), the same was between type 芋. BCVA between different cases in the same type and between type II, Ⅲ, was no statistical difference ( P>0. 05). OCT showed 21 eyes wwere type ▏, 17 eyes were type II and type Ⅲ 2 eyes. BCVA average between type▏ andIIwas statistically significant (P<0. 05). The mean BCVA was no statistically significant difference between type II and Ⅲ patients (P>0. 05).?CONCLUSlON:ARPE fundus demonstrated the multiple dark gray discrete lesions, the degree of visual impairment related with the presence of pigment epithelial barrier and lesion location. OCT and FFA characterized three types. FFA is shown asblack light orgrape variety fluorescent spot, and is the basis of diagnosis. OCT can display the lesions organization form of each layer clearly. lt plays a more and more important role in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of ARPE.

Objective To investigate the spatial distribution and clustering areas of Budd-Chiari syndrome in Heze City,Shandong Province,and to provide epidemiological information for further exploring the etiology and related risk factors of the disease.Methods Detailed residential addresses of 342 cases of patients (residents of Heze City) with diaphragm type Budd-Chiari syndrome diagnosed between 1995 and 2004 in Heze Municipal Hospital,Heze Shan County Central Hospital,Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College,Shandong Provincial Hospital and Beijing Xuanwu Hospital were collected.Geographic information system (GIS) was used as a platform for data management and display.The nearest neighbor index,Ripley's K(d) function,Ripley's L(d) function and the nearest neighbor clustering method were applied to detect the spatial characters of Budd-Chiari syndrome in Heze City,Shandong Province.Crimestat 3.0 was used for spatial analysis.Results The nearest neighbor distance analysis showed that the nearest neighbor index was 0.6767 (Z =-11.4387,P ＜ 0.01).That was an aggregation at the first-order spatial scale.Within the study area,the first clustering radius of Budd-Chiari syndrome was 6.66 km,and the first clustering strength was 5.40; the average radius of the strongest clustering area was 126.61 km,and the clustering strength was 12.52,while the biggest clustering radius was larger than 222 km.After corrected by population,the gathering strength was slightly higher than that before the correction.Ten first-order hot spots were formed,and 95％ confidence interval aggregation number was 7,which meant the results were statistically significant(P ＜ 0.05),main clustering areas are in Mudan District,Shan County and Juancheng.One secondorder hot spot was gathered based on the first-order hot spot.Conclusions Spatial distribution of Budd-Chiari syndrome in Heze City,Shandong Province has showed spatial aggregation and heterogeneity.This study has a great epidemiological significance for further exploring the cause of Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Microbial lipase,one of important industrial biocatalysts,has been used widely in many industrial and agricultural fields.It is always the research focus to screen,mine and develop the microbial lipases with novel catalytic activity and high stability.This paper introduces briefly the pathways and methods to mine novel microbial lipase resources from six aspects,including extremophile,metagenome,genome database,protein engineering,immobilization,chemical modification,etc.