Crataegus oxyacantha (Aubepine, Hawthorn), was used by european herbalist in the first century A. D. It went out fashion as a medicine until the 19th century for heart disease. The leaves, flowers, and berries of hawthorn contain a variety of bioflavonoid-like complexes that appear to be primarily responsible for the cardiac actions of the plant. Bioflavonoids found in C. oxyacantha include oligomeric procyanidins (OPCc), vitexin, quercetin, and hyperoside. The action of these compounds on the cardiovascular system has led to the development of leaf and flower extracts. As described in French pharmacopea, the hyperoside is the marker for quality control.
Animals ; Cardiovascular Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; drug therapy ; Crataegus ; chemistry ; Flowers ; chemistry ; France ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

Background and Objectives: Atrial fi brillation (AF) is an important, independent risk factor for stroke. The value of antithrombotic therapy to prevent stroke is well established in numerous randomized controlled trials. The objectives of this study were to determine the rate and the factors associated with the prescription of antithrombotic treatment before fi rst-ever ischemic stroke in patients with known AF; and to assess the association between preadmission antithrombotic therapy and stroke severity, death or disability. Methods: Consecutive patients with acute fi rst-ever ischemic stroke and AF admitted to Mackay Memorial Hospital from July 2005 to June 2007 were included in the study. We reviewed the use of antithrombotic agents before stroke onset, the international normalized ratio at admission and coexisting illness. The severity of stroke was graded using the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale. Disability was measured at discharge and during 90 days follow-up according to modifi ed-Rankin Scale. Results: A total of 1,952 patients were admitted with ischemic stroke during the study period. Of these, 152 patients with AF experienced fi rst-ever ischemic stroke. Of 152 patients, 124 (82%) were known to have AF and 28 (18%) were diagnosed with AF during admission. Before stroke, 69 out of 124 patients with known AF (56%) were not on antithrombotic therapy, 30 (24%) were receiving antithrombotic treatment but inadequately treated, and 25 (20%) were adequately treated according to the current guidelines. Younger age (<75 years), history of ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus and congestive heart failure were associated with the use of antithrombotic therapy before stroke onset. At discharge and during 90 days follow-up, 28% of the adequately treated patients died or were severely disabled compared with 57% of those inadequately treated. Conclusion: Antithrombotic treatment was underutilized before stroke onset, and this underuse is associated with increased mortality or disability in ischemic stroke patients with AF.

Background and Objectives: Anticoagulation clinics are widely used for anticoagulation management in many countries, but have only recently began to gain acceptance in Taiwan. Our service model is a physician-managed outpatient clinic collaborating with clinical pharmacist and nurse. This study aimed to evaluate the adequacy of anticoagulation and rates of warfarin-related complications before and after referral to our collaborative anticoagulation clinic (CAC). Methods: Stroke patients taking warfarin from the neurology department were identifi ed and referred to the CAC during the 12-month period from February 2009 to January 2010. Quality markers include percentage of international normalized ratio (INR) values in the therapeutic range, frequency of INR monitoring, and frequency of follow-up visits and the mean interval of next INR monitoring after non-therapeutic INRs were compared one year before and after management in the CAC. Using studied patients as self-control, they were included in the analysis if patients had at least 3 months follow-up or 3 INR values both before and after referral. Results: A total of 44 stroke patients were included: mean age of 75.0 ± 9.7 years, with a CHADS2 score of 3.71 ± 0.69. The adequacy of anticoagulation was signifi cantly greater during CAC care compared with the period before referral; the percentage of INR within expanded therapeutic range was 60.9% versus 53.7%, respectively (p=0.049). Reduction in sub-therapeutic INR values from 31.8% to 24.2% (p=0.023) contributed mostly to the improved quality of care. The time interval of next INR monitoring after non-therapeutic INRs ( 4.0 or 1.5) was also signifi cantly shorter. However, there was no signifi cant difference in the rates of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic events which may be attributed to a small sample size. Conclusion: Based on results of our study, a CAC may be the optimal structure for anticoagulation management service in the future.

Objective: To investigate the genetic polymorphisms of 24 autosomal short tandem repeats (STR) loci in Gelao and Miao populations dwelled in Guizhou province, and explore the population genetic relationships and evaluate their application value on forensic medicine. Methods: The DNA samples of 732 unrelated individuals (399 Guizhou Gelao population and 333 Guizhou Miao population) were amplified using SureID® PanGlobal kit, and the PCR products were analyzed by electrophoresis through 3500XL genetic analyzer. The fragment sizes of alleles were subsequently analyzed by GeneMapper ID-X v1.5. Allele frequencies and forensic genetic parameters of 24 STR loci were statistically analyzed and compared with the available data of other populations from different races and regions. Results: For Guizhou Gelao and Miao populations, the individual discrimination power (DP) ranged from 0.7833 to 0.9909 and 0.8010 to 0.9909, respectively; the polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.5608 to 0.9385 and 0.5677 to 0.9414, respectively; the total discrimination power (TDP) were 1-7.6036 × 10-30 and 1-6.8630 × 10-30, respectively, and the cumulative probability of exclusion (CPE) were 1-1.9608 × 10-11 and 1-1.9738 × 10-14, respectively. Analysis with the matrix of Nei's DA genetic distance indicated that the genetic distance was the smallest (0.0205) between Guizhou Gelao and Hubei Han populations, while was the largest (0.0449) between Guizhou Gelao and Yunnan Miao populations; the genetic distance was minimum (0.0033) between Guizhou Miao and Hunan Han populations, while was maximal (0.0363) between Guizhou Miao and Yunnan Miao. Conclusions: The 24 STR loci are abundant in genetic polymorphism in Guizhou Gelao and Miao populations. It is of great significance to study the genetic diversity of different ethnic groups in order to understand their origin, migration and interrelationship.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the rapid PCR amplification program and system and to verify the technical indexes. METHODS: PCR multiplex and capillary electrophoresis detection of 24 autosomal STR loci and one Y-STR loci using the 6-color fluorescence marking technology, as well as A melogenin and Y-InDel. Meanwhile, sensitivity, specificity, identity, stability, mixing and a batch of sample tests were investigated, and the genotype of various routine samples and degraded, exfoliated cell samples were observed. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the system was 0.062 5 ng. In addition, the genotype could be detected accurately only around 65 min via rapid amplification. The species-specificity was high and the genotyping of all kinds of dry blood specimens of filter paper and mixed, degraded, exfoliated cell samples were accurate. CONCLUSION The rapid amplification system can significantly improve the detection rate, and obtain accurate and stable genotyping results, which may be important implications for the establishment of STR database and study on population genetics and forensic identification.
Electrophoresis, Capillary ; Fluorescence ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

AIM: To investigate the effects of different wavelength of blue light on human retinal pigment epithelial(RPE)cells.

METHODS: ARPE-19 cells cultured in vitro were randomly divided into four groups, which were control group, 447nm blue light group, 456nm blue light group and 468nm blue light group. The cells in control group were cultured under normal conditions whereas the cells in blue light group were irradiated with different wavelengths of OLED blue light with the illumination intensity of 200Lux for 72h. Live/Dead staining assay, CCK-8 assay and real-time PCR were performed to compare the effects of different wavelengths of blue light on the morphology, cell viability, proliferation capacity, mRNA expression level of visual cycle biomarkers and inflammatory biomarkers of ARPE-19 cells, respectively.

RESULTS: After blue light irradiation, the abnormal morphology and the decrease of cell confluence of ARPE-19 cells were observed. Furthermore, with the decrease in the wavelength of blue light, the inhibition effect of blue light on RPE proliferation was enhanced, and the mRNA expression of the proliferation marker Ki-67 and visual cycle biomarkers LRAT, CRALBP, RDH and IRBP decreased. In addition, the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory factors MCP-1 and IL-6 in RPE cells were up-regulated with the decrease in the wavelength of blue light.

CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated that blue light in different wavelengths exerted detrimental effects on RPE cells. The shorter the wavelength of blue light was, the more severe damage it caused on the RPE cells.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of critical thinking disposition and empathy on cultural competency in nursing students. METHODS: The participants were 199 nursing students from D, H, and W universities in J province. Data were collected from April 1 to May 30, 2016, and analyzed using SPSS/WIN 21.0. RESULTS: The mean score for critical thinking disposition was 3.53±0.37, for empathy, 3.73±0.33, and for cultural competency, 3.23±0.40. Critical thinking disposition showed a positive correlation with cultural competency (r=.32, p<.001) and empathy showed a positive correlation with cultural competency (r=.31, p<.001). Critical thinking disposition showed a positive correlation with empathy (r=.36, p<.001). Significant factors that influenced cultural competency were critical thinking disposition, empathy, foreign residents in the family, and participating in cultural education. These variables explained 18% of cultural competency. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that critical thinking disposition and empathy enhancement programs should be developed to increase cultural competency in nursing students. There is also a need for further studies to examine effects of developed programs.
Cultural Competency* ; Education ; Empathy* ; Humans ; Nursing* ; Students, Nursing* ; Thinking*

OBJECTIVETo study the rehabilitation effects ergometry on COPD patients.

METHODSThirty COPD out-patients in our Hospital were randomly divided into 2 groups. Rehabilitation group, 15 patients, performed leg ergometry exercise of 80% peak Watt x 30min/d x 3d/w x 12w. Another 15 patients were control group without exercise. All patients received conventional therapy. Pulmonary function testing (PFT), cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), arterial blood gas analysis (ABG), Borg and CAT sores were done at both baseline and 12 w.

RESULTSThere was no statistically difference in lung function testing, blood gas analysis and cardiopulmonary exercise test when pre- exercises between 2 sub-groups. The IC, peak VO2 and peak, W of rehabilitation group significantly increased (P < 0.05); and Borg and CAT.scores significantly decreased (P < 0.05) from baseline; and other PFT and ABG did not change (P > 0.05). While there was no difference in control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLeg submaximal ergometry rehabilitation improves health condition and ameliorate dyspnea symptoms in COPD patients.

Blood Gas Analysis ; Dyspnea ; therapy ; Exercise Test ; Exercise Therapy ; Humans ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; therapy ; Respiratory Function Tests

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of Rho-GDI in the decidual tissues of patients preeclampsia and explore its clinical implication.

METHODSReal-time PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of Rho-GDI in the decidual tissues from 30 normal women with full-term pregnancy, 30 patients with early-onset severe preeclampsia and 30 with late-onset severe preeclampsia.

RESULTSRho-GDI expression was found mainly on the cell membrane and in the cytoplasm and nuclei of the decidual cells, occasionally occurring in the stroma. Both the mRNA and protein expressions of Rho-GDI in the decidual tissues were significantly higher in the normal pregnancy group than in the two severe preeclampsia groups (P<0.05), and the patients with late-onset severe preeclampsia had the lowest expressions of Rho-GDI.

CONCLUSIONThe lowered expression of Rho-GDI in the deciduas might be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of preeclampsia.

Adult ; Decidua ; metabolism ; Female ; Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Pre-Eclampsia ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Young Adult ; rho-Specific Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of Qufeng Zhidong Recipe (QZR) on the head tic behavior, and the mRNA expressions of Notch1 and dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) in tic disordered mice.

METHODSMouse model like wet-dog shake head tic disorder was established by peritoneal injection of 5-HT2A/C agonist DOI for 14 successive days. The model mice were divided into three groups, the model group, the Chinese medicine (CM) treated group and the Western medicine (WM) treated group, they were intervened respectively with distilled water, QZR (10 g/kg) and haloperidol (1 mg/kg). Besides, a normal control group was set up and gastrogavaged with distilled water. The effect of intervention was evaluated 2 weeks later by estimating the head tic and the creeping distance of animals, and the mRNA expressions of D2R and Notch1 in corpus striatum and prefrontal cortex regions were detected using Real-time PCR.

RESULTSThe wet-dog shake response and the creeping distance of mice were significantly reduced after intervention in both intervened groups, showing insignificant difference between the effects of CM and WM (P > 0.05). The expression of D2R mRNA in corpus striatum was higher than that in the prefrontal cortex (P < 0.01), at the prefrontal cortex, it was 151 +/- 30 in the CM group and 180 +/- 41 in the WM group, and at the corpus striatum, 710 +/- 64 and 850 +/- 80 respectively, all higher than those in the model group (P < 0.05). While the Notch1 mRNA expression in model mice were lower at the prefrontal cortex than at the corpus striatum (P < 0.05). After intervention it was 55 +/- 20 in the CM group and 48 +/- 23 in the WM group at the prefrontal cortex, all significantly lower than that in the model group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDOI-induced wet-dog shake response could well simulate the clinical characteristics of tic disorder; QZR could improve the tic behavior and creeping distance in the model mice. The up-regulation of D2R mRNA expression after QZR intervention may be related with the down-regulation of Notch1 expression, this findings is worthy of further studies.

Animals ; Corpus Striatum ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Phytotherapy ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Receptor, Notch1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, Dopamine D2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Tic Disorders ; drug therapy