Objective Present study aimed to characterize the alteration of cortical thickness in first-episode, never-medicated, adult patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), and explore whether such deficits were related with their disease duration and clinical symptom severity. Methods Thirty-seven adult MDD patients were recruited from March 2013 to August 2015 as patient group, and 41 healthy volunteers were as control group. All the patients underwent three-dimensional spoiled gradient recalled (3D-SPGR) sequences, and the images were acquired. Constructions of the cortical surface were developed from 3D-SPGR images using FreeSurfer software, and the thickness of the entire cortex was measured according to the automated surface reconstruction, transformation, and high-resolution inter-subject alignment procedures. Finally, cortical thickness was compared between the two groups, and the relativity between clinical symptom severity, disease progression and clinical scores were analyzed using the General Linear Model (GLM). Results Our results revealed a significant increase in cortical thickness(P<0.05, false discovery rate corrected) in the left anterior and middle cingulate cortex, bilateral precentral cortex, left paracentral cortex, bilateral superior parietal cortex, left temporal pole, and right lateral occipital cortex (cortical thickness 1.89-2.87 mm, cortical volume 34-384 mm2, P<0.05) in MDD patients compared to healthy controls, while no reversed alternation was found. In addition, clinical symptom severity and disease progression showed no correlation with the cortical thickness abnormalities in MDD group(P>0.05). Conclusion Excluding the impact of treatment, our study showed that the cortical thickness change was mainly located in the prefrontal-limbic system in the in early course of MDD.

Objective:To investigate the genetic correlation of interleukin-12 (IL-12) pathway-related gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with psoriasis vulgaris and their interaction with HLA-Cw*0602 in populations of Mongolian and Han nationalities in Inner Mongolia.Methods:From December 2012 to March 2018, 1 409 inpatients with psoriasis vulgaris (1 030 of Han nationality and 379 of Mongo-lian nationality) and 1 483 healthy controls (965 of Han nationality and 518 of Mongolian nationality) were collected from the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, and served as patient group and control group respectively. Five milliliters of peripheral venous blood samples were collected from these subjects, and DNA was extracted. Nine SNPs located in the coding regions of IL-12 pathway-related genes were selected, including IL-12B (rs2082412, rs2288831, rs3212227, rs3213094, rs7709212) , IL-23R (rs11209026, rs2201841, rs7530511) and IL-28RA (rs4649203) genes, and detected by next-generation sequencing. HLA-Cw*0602 was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) . Statistical analysis was carried out with PLINK1.07 software, Chi-square test was used to compare allele frequencies between the 2 groups, relative risk estimates of alleles were calculated by using odds ratio ( OR) , and chi-square test for R × C contingency tables was used for haplotype analysis. Results:The allele frequencies of rs2082412, rs2288831, rs3212227, rs3213094 and rs7709212 in the IL-12B gene were significantly lower in the patients with psoriasis vulgaris of Han nationality than in the controls of Han nationality (all P < 0.005) ; the allele frequency of rs3213094 in the IL-12B gene was significantly lower in the patients of Mongolian nationality than in the controls of Mongolian nationality ( P < 0.005) . The prevalence of HLA-Cw*0602 was significantly lower in the patients with psoriasis vulgaris of Han and Mongolian nationalities than in the controls of corresponding nationalities (both P < 0.005) . As stratification analysis showed, the allele frequencies of rs2082412, rs2288831, rs3212227, rs3213094 and rs7709212 in the IL-12B gene were significantly lower in HLA-Cw*0602-positive patients of Han nationality than in HLA-Cw*0602-positive controls of Han nationality (all P < 0.005) , while there was no significant difference between HLA-Cw*0602-negative patients of Han nationality and HLA-Cw*0602-negative controls of Han nationality (all P > 0.05) . Among the HLA-Cw*0602-positive or negative populations of Mongolian nationality, no significant difference was observed in the allele frequencies between the patients and controls (all P > 0.005) . Haplotypes were constructed using 5 SNPs in the IL-12B gene, and there was no significant difference in the frequencies of 6 haplotypes between the patients and controls of Mongolian or Han nationality (all P > 0.005) ; stratification analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the frequencies of 7 haplotypes between HLA-Cw*0602-positive/negative patients and controls of Mongolian or Han nationality (all P > 0.005) . Conclusion:IL-12 pathway-related gene polymorphisms are associated with psoriasis vulgaris in the populations of Mongolian and Han nationalities in Inner Mongolia, and there may be interaction between IL-12B and HLA-Cw*0602 in the occurrence of psoriasis vulgaris.

Objective:To evaluate the role of spinal Rac1 signaling pathway in the maintenance of bone cancer pain (BCP) in rats.Methods:Sixty-four clean-grade adult female Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 8-10 weeks, weighing 180-200 g, were divided into 4 groups using a random number table method: sham operation group (group S, n=8), BCP group ( n=40), BCP plus normal saline group (group BCP+ Veh, n=8), and BCP plus NSC23766 group (group BCP+ NSC, n=8). BCP was induced by injecting Walker 256 mammary gland cancer cell suspension 5 μl (1×10 5 cells/μl) into the bone marrow of the right tibia of rats in BCP, BCP+ Veh and BCP+ NSC groups, while the equal volume of inactivated tumor cells were injected in group S. On 9-11 days after BCP, specific Rac1 inhibitor NSC23766 (5 μg/5 μl) was intrathecally injected once a day in group BCP+ NSC, and the equal volume of normal saline (5 μl) was given once a day in group BCP+ Veh.The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) was measured at 1 day before BCP (T 0) and 3, 5, 7, 14 and 21 days after BCP (T 1-5). Eight rats in each group were sacrificed after measurement of MWT at each time point in BCP group or after the last measurement of MWT in S, BCP+ Veh and BCP+ NSC groups, and the lumbar segment (L 4-6) of the spinal cord was removed for determination of the expression of Rac1 signaling pathway-related proteins Rac1, GTP-Rac1, PAK1 and p-PAK1 using Western blot. Results:Compared with group S, MWT was significantly decreased at T 3-5 in BCP, BCP+ Veh and BCP+ NSC groups, and the expression of GTP-Rac1 and p-PAK1 was up-regulated at T 3-5 in group BCP ( P<0.05). Compared with group BCP+ Veh, MWT was significantly increased at T 4, 5, and the expression of GTP-Rac1 and p-PAK1 was down-regulated in group BCP+ NSC ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Spinal Rac1 signaling pathway is involved in the maintenance of BCP in rats.

Objective:To investigate the effect of modified Shenling Baizhu San on the pathological changes and extracellular matrix (ECM) in rats with peritoneal fibrosis induced by peritoneal dialysate fluid (PDF) with different sugar concentration and its mechanism.Methods:Seventy male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into control group, different sugar content PDF model groups and corresponding traditional Chinese medicine intervention groups, with 10 rats in each group. Peritoneal fibrosis model was reproduced by intraperitoneal injection of 100 mL·kg -1·d -1 PDF containing 1.5%, 2.5% and 4.25% sugar once a day for 8 weeks. The rats in the control group were given the same amount of normal saline. The rats in the traditional Chinese medicine intervention groups were treated with gavage of 10 mL/kg of modified Shenling Baizhu San (containing 2.014 g crude drug per liter) immediately after modeling. The PDF model groups and the control group were given the same amount of normal saline by gavage. After 8 weeks, the peritoneal ultrafiltration volume of rats in each group was measured. The peritoneal tissues were collected and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE), and the structural changes and thickness of the parietal peritoneum were observed under a light microscope. After Masson staining, the deposition of collagen fibers was observed under a light microscope. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expressions of E-cadherin,?α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Vimentin, the main components of ECM in parietal peritoneum. The positive expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were detected by immunohistochemical staining. Results:Compared with the control group, PDF with different sugar contents could induce peritoneal fibrosis in rats, and the degree of fibrosis was gradually aggravated with the increase of sugar content, which was manifested as peritoneal thickening, increased collagen fiber deposition, decreased peritoneal ultrafiltration volume, down-regulated expressions of E-cadherin and MMP-9 in peritoneal tissue, and up-regulated expressions of α-SMA, Vimentin, TIMP-1 and TGF-β1, and the pathological changes and ECM accumulation in peritoneal tissues were more serious in 4.25% PDF model group. After the intervention of modified Shenling Baizhu San, compared with the corresponding PDF model groups, the peritoneal fibrosis of rats was improved to varying degrees, and the effect of the 4.25% PDF+traditional Chinese medicine intervention group was more significant, the parietal peritoneum was significantly thinner (μm: 101.86±16.01 vs. 140.65±10.13, P < 0.05), collagen fiber deposition was significantly reduced, peritoneal ultrafiltration volume was significantly increased (mL: -0.01±3.45 vs. -3.53±1.84, P < 0.05), the expressions of E-cadherin and MMP-9 in peritoneal tissues were significantly up-regulated [E-cadherin protein (E-cadherin/β-actin): 0.84±0.08 vs. 0.28±0.05, MMP-9 ( A value): 0.60±0.15 vs. 0.37±0.01, both P < 0.05], and the expressions of α-SMA, Vimentin, TIMP-1 and TGF-β1 were significantly down-regulated [α-SMA protein (α-SMA/β-actin): 0.36±0.08 vs. 1.05±0.09, Vimentin protein (Vimentin/β-actin): 0.53±0.07 vs. 1.19±0.04, TIMP-1 ( A value): 0.49±0.06 vs. 0.87±0.02, TGF-β1 ( A value): 0.67±0.04 vs. 0.89±0.10, all P < 0.05]. Conclusions:The degree of peritoneal fibrosis gradually increased with the increase of PDF sugar content in rats. Modified Shenling Baizhu San can improve peritoneal fibrosis induced by PDF with different sugar contents in rats, and the mechanism is related to the changes in the expression of fibrosis markers and ECM accumulation.

Objective:To assess the efficacy and safety of cinepazide maleate injection in the treatment of patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods:A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase Ⅳ clinical trial, led by Peking Union Medical College Hospital, was conducted in 65 Hospitals in China. The efficacy of cinepazide maleate injection in patients with acute anterior circulation cerebral infarction with onset time of ≤48 hours, 7≤National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) score ≤25 was assessed from August 2016 to February 2019, using the proportion of modified Rankin scale (mRS) score≤1 and Barthel index (BI) score≤95 on day 14 as efficacy endpoint. The patients were divided into treatment group who were treated with cinepazide maleate injection and control group who were treated with placebo.Results:A total 937 patients were involved in the final efficacy analysis (466 in treatment group and 471 in control group). The proportion of subjects with mRS score≤1 on day 14 after treatment were higher in the treatment group than that in the control group (102/466(21.89%) vs76/471(16.14%)). Logistic regression analysis showed that patients treated with cinepazide maleate were significantly more likely to have a favorable outcome (mRS score≤1) than patients treated with placebo on day 14 ( OR=0.677, 95% CI 0.484-0.948 , P=0.023), and patients treated with cinepazide maleate were more likely to reach independence in activities of daily living (Barthel Index ≥95) than those treated with placebo on day 14 (125/466(26.82%) vs 91/471(19.32%); OR=0.632, 95% CI0.459-0.869, P=0.005). The rate of adverse events was similar between the treatment and control groups. Conclusion:The 14-day treatment with cinepazide maleate injection could reduce the degree of disability whereas did not increase the risk of adverse events.

Objective:To understand the rate of spirometry examination and its related factors among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients aged ≥40 years in China from 2014 to 2015, and provide evidence for diagnosis, treatment and management of COPD patients normatively.Methods:Data were obtained from 2014-2015 COPD surveillance, China. The previous lung function examination status and other information of the subjects were collected by face-to-face survey. We defined COPD as a post-bronchodilator FEV 1: FVC less than 70%. A total of 9 130 COPD patients were included in the analysis of this study. The rate of spirometry examination and its 95% confidence interval ( CI) were estimated in COPD patients aged ≥40 years with complicated sampling weights. Meanwhile, the spirometry examination related factors were analyzed. Results:The estimated rate of spirometry examination among COPD patients was 5.9% (95% CI: 4.9%-6.9%), 6.1% (95% CI: 5.2%-7.1%) for men and 5.3% (95% CI: 4.0%-6.6%) for women. The rate was significantly higher in urban population than in rural ( P<0.001). With the increase of education level, the rate of spirometry examination among COPD patients increased gradually ( P<0.001). The rate of spirometry examination was 4.0% (95% CI: 3.1%-4.9%) among COPD patients in agricultural industry. The rate of spirometry examination among COPD patients with awareness of pulmonary function test was 32.3% (95% CI: 26.4%-38.1%). The rate of spirometry examination among COPD patients with previous chronic respiratory disease and respiratory symptoms were 13.7%(95% CI:11.5%-15.9%), 8.8%(95% CI:7.2%-10.4%), respectively. The rate of spirometry examination among COPD patients exposed to occupational dust and/or harmful gases was 5.7% (95% CI: 4.6%-6.9%). The rate of spirometry examination in former smokers among COPD patients was 10.2% (95% CI: 8.0%-12.4%), higher than those in current smokers (4.2%, 95% CI: 3.3%-5.1%) and non-smokers (6.3%, 95% CI: 5.1%-7.6%). Conclusion:The rate of spirometry examination is extremely low among COPD patients aged ≥40 in China, and the standardized diagnosis, treatment and management of COPD patients need to be improved urgently.

Objective:To understand the medication treatment rate and its associated factors among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients aged ≥40 years in China, and to provide basic data for targeted interventions to improve the diagnosis and treatment of COPD patients.Methods:Data were from COPD surveillance of Chinese residents in 2014-2015. Questionnaire and pre-bronchodilator and post-bronchodilator spirometry were performed on all respondents. Individuals with post-bronchodilator FEV 1/FVC<70% were diagnosed as COPD patients. A total of 9 120 COPD patients were included in the analysis. Based on the complex sampling design, the medication treatment rate and 95% CI among COPD patients were estimated, and the associated factors were analyzed. Results:The medication treatment rate for COPD patients aged ≥40 years was 11.7% (95% CI: 10.2%-13.0%), the treatment rate with inhaled medication was 3.4% (95% CI: 2.9%-4.0%), and the treatment rate with oral or intravenous medication was 10.4% (95% CI: 9.0%-12.0%). All treatment rates were higher in patients who knew that they had COPD before the investigation. The rate of medication treatment in patients aged ≥60 years was higher than that in patients aged <60 years. Medication treatment rate, and oral or intravenous medication treatment rate among women were higher than those among men. These two treatment rates in patients with harmful occupational exposure were higher than those in patients without exposure. The medication treatment rate, and oral or intravenous medication treatment rate in former smokers were higher than those in current smokers and never smokers. Patients who knew that they had COPD before the investigation had higher rates of three treatments than those who were not aware of their disease conditions. Those with respiratory symptoms had higher three treatments rates than those without symptoms. Conclusion:In China, the rate of medication treatment for COPD patients aged ≥40 years old, especially the rate of inhaled medication treatment was very low. Being aware of their own COPD status and the emergence of respiratory symptoms were important factors associated with COPD medication treatment. Early diagnosis of COPD should be strengthened and the level of standardized treatment for patients should be improved.

Objective:To understand the smoking cessation behaviors in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients aged 40 years or older in China and provide evidence for COPD control and prevention.Methods:COPD patients with post-bronchodilator FEV 1/FVC<70% were selected from COPD surveillance (2014-2015) of China, in which 5 791 current or former smokers defined by questionnaire survey were included in the study. The smoking cessation rate/ratio and the successful smoking cessation rate in COPD patients, the successful smoking cessation rate in COPD patients who ever smoked daily and the rate of attempting to quit smoking in current smokers with COPD were estimated using data adjusted by complicated sampling method. Results:The smoking cessation rate was 25.0% and the successful smoking cessation rate was 19.1% in COPD patients aged 40 years or older who ever smoked. The smoking cessation ratio was 23.1% and the successful smoking cessation ratio was 17.6% in COPD patients who ever smoked daily. The rate and ratio were higher in urban area than rural area ( P<0.05) and increased with age ( P<0.05). Patients who were aware of smoking being a risk factor for COPD had higher rate and ratio than patients who were not aware ( P<0.05). Patients with more severe airflow limitation and patients smoking less had higher rate and ratio ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The smoking cessation rate and ratio were low in COPD patients in China. More health education for COPD patients about smoking cessation needs to be strengthened. It is suggested for healthcare workers to actively advise smoking cessation and suggest smoking cessation ways for patients who smoke in their routine clinical service to increase the successful smoking cessation rate/ratio in COPD patients.

Objective:To understand the awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) status and awareness of COPD-related knowledge and its influencing factors in COPD patients aged ≥40 years in China in 2014-2015.Methods:The study subjects were selected through multi-stage stratified cluster sampling from 125 COPD surveillance points in 31 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) in China. The number of the subjects was 75 107. The relevant variables about COPD diagnosis and COPD-related knowledge awareness were collected by electronic questionnaire in face to face interviews. A total of 9 134 participates with post-bronchodilator FEV 1/FVC<70% were diagnosed with COPD. Based on the complex sampling design, the awareness rate of COPD status and related knowledge were estimated, and the influencing factors were analyzed. Results:A total of 9 132 COPD patients were included in the analysis. Among COPD patients aged ≥40 years in China, 0.9% were aware of their COPD status (95 %CI: 0.6%-1.1%), and 5.7% were aware of COPD related knowledge (95 %CI: 4.8%-6.6%), and 3.4% were aware of pulmonary function test (95 %CI: 2.8%-4.0%). The COPD status awareness rate was 3.9% in the patients with history of chronic respiratory disease (95 %CI: 2.9%-4.8%), 2.4% in the patients with respiratory symptoms (95 %CI: 1.7%-3.1%), and 7.1% in the patients with COPD related knowledge awareness (95 %CI: 4.5%-9.8%) respectively. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that chronic respiratory disease history, respiratory symptoms, occupational dust and/or harmful gas exposure and COPD related knowledge awareness had influences on the awareness rate of COPD status. Educational level and chronic respiratory disease history had influences on the awareness rate of COPD related knowledge. And ethnic groups, educational level and history of chronic respiratory diseases had influences on the awareness rate of pulmonary function test. Conclusions:The awareness rates of COPD status, COPD-related knowledge and pulmonary function test in COPD patients in China were low. The comprehensive intervention of COPD should be carried out to improve the level of diagnosis and the awareness COPD status of COPD patients.

Objective:To understand the pneumococcal vaccination rate in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients aged 40 years or older in China and provide evidence for COPD control and prevention.Methods:COPD patients with post-bronchodilator FEV 1/FVC<70% in COPD surveillance (2014-2015) of China were used as study subjects, in which 9 067 patients with definite pneumococcal vaccination status were included. The pneumococcal vaccination rate and its 95 %CI in COPD patients were estimated using data adjusted by complicated sampling method. The factors in association with the vaccination rate were also identified. Results:The pneumococcal vaccination rate was 0.8% in the past five years in COPD patients aged 40 years or older in China (95 %CI: 0.3%-1.4%). The vaccination rate was 0.3% in the patients aged 40 to 59 years (95 %CI: 0.2%-0.5%) and 1.2% in the patients aged 60 years or older (95 %CI: 0.3%-2.1%) ( P<0.05). The rate was higher in the patients living in urban area (1.5%) than in those living in rural area (0.4%) ( P<0.05). The vaccination rate increased with the severity of airflow limitation ( P<0.05). The patients with comorbidities of other chronic lung diseases or diabetes had higher vaccination rate (1.7% and 2.1%) compared with those without comorbidities ( P<0.05). The vaccination rate was 1.4% in former smokers and 0.6% in current smokers. The pneumococcal vaccination rate in COPD patients was associated with age, education level, occupation, the severity of airflow limitation and the history of influenza vaccination. Conclusions:The pneumococcal vaccination rate was extremely low in COPD patients aged 40 years or older in China. It is necessary to strengthen the health education and recommendation for pneumococcal vaccination in COPD patients through different measures.