The DNA structures could be altered or even damaged by exogeous or endogenous factors during cell proliferation. Failure of effective and timely repair will lead to cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. By taking the advantage of the quick proliferation of cancer cells, DNA damage induction, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis promotion have become important strategies for ant-cancer chemotherapy. Previous reports showed that an array of natural compounds inhibit cancer cell proliferation by inducing DNA damage, which have therapeutic potentials for anti-cancer drug research and development.
Animals ; Biological Products ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; DNA Damage ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of Chinese medicine Huangban Bianxing Recipe (HBR) for treatment of choroidal neovascularization (CNV).

METHODSEighty patients (97 eyes) suffered from CNV were assigned to two groups, the treated group treated by HBR orally taken one dose every day and the control group treated with ginkgo leaf tablet 1 tablet (19.2 mg) thrice a day, all for 3 months. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus hemorrhagic area were measured; the neo-genetic vascular leakage area determined by fluorescent fundus angiography (FFA); and the out-layer high reflective band thickness (OHRBT) estimated by optical coherent tomography (OCT) were recorded before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment, in the treated group, BCVA was improved, with an effective rate of 67.12%, while in the control group, it was 33.33%, the former was better than the latter significantly (P < 0.05). The effective rate in reducing fundus hemorrhagic area in the two groups (85.11% vs 47.62%) and that in the CNV closure showed by FFA (67.50% vs 37.50%) were also superior in the treated group (P < 0.05). Besides, OCT showed that the OHRBT reduced significantly after treatment in the treated group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHBR can improve the vision, reduce the CNV leakage in the macular region, and advance the absorption of fundus hemorrhage in CNV patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Choroidal Neovascularization ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Macular Degeneration ; complications ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Visual Acuity ; drug effects ; Young Adult

The paper is aimed to establish a method of residue analysis for thiamethoxam and to study its degradation dynamic and final residue and its standard of safe application of thiamethoxam on Lonicera japonica. Samples extracted with methanol by ultrasonication were purified with dichloromethane by liquid-liquid extraction and SPE column and analysed by HPLC-UV. The results showed that average rate was 84.91%-94.44% and RSD 1.74%-4.96% with addition of thiamethoxam in respectively diverse concentration, which meets inspection requirement of pesticide residue. Two kinds of dosages of thiamethoxam were treated- varying from recommended dosage (90 g x hm(-2)) to high dosage (135 g x hm(-2)), Results of two years test showed that thiamethoxam was degraded more than 90% seven days after application and the half - life period of thiamethoxam was 1.54-1.66 d. The digestion rate of thiamethoxam was fast in the L. japonica. The recommended MRL of thiamethoxam in the L. japonica is 0.1 mg x kg(-1), the dosage of 25% thiamethoxam WDG from 90-135 g x hm(-2) is sprayed less than three times a year on L. japonica and 14 days is proposed for the safety interval of the last pesticide application's and harvest's date.
Agriculture ; methods ; standards ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Flowers ; chemistry ; growth & development ; parasitology ; Half-Life ; Insect Control ; methods ; standards ; Insecticides ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; Lonicera ; chemistry ; growth & development ; parasitology ; Neonicotinoids ; Nitro Compounds ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; Oxazines ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; Pesticide Residues ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; Plant Diseases ; parasitology ; prevention & control ; Thiazoles ; adverse effects ; chemistry

Objective:To analyze the causes of death of elderly inpatients,so as to provide direction for the precaution of geriatrics.Methods:The first page data of hospitalized medical records of elderly inpatients in medical department in the Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University from 2102 to 2019 were extracted, and the causes of death were analyzed. The statistical analysis was performed by Excel and SPSS 21.0 statistical software.Results:The number of deaths of elderly inpatients in medical department from 2012 to 2019 was 5 249. The proportion of deaths in ICU was 34.43%(1 807/5 249), in oncology department was19.03%(999/5 249), and in cardiovascular department was12.08%(634/5 249). The average age was (78.52 ± 7.82) years. Besides, the age of men was younger than women: (78.18 ± 8.00) years vs. (79.02 ± 7.52) years, and the differences was statistically significant ( P<0.01). Men(59.1%, 3 099/5 249) were more than women (40.96%, 2 150/5 249). The largest number of deaths was in the age of 75-84 years (42.56%, 2 234/5 249). The number of cases with combined above five diseases was 4 552(86.72%, 4 552/5 249). The top three causes of deaths of elderly inpatients in medical department from 2012 to 2019 were cardiocerebrovascular diseases (27.21%, 1 428/5 249), malignant tumor (25.74%, 1351/5 249) and respiratory system diseases (22.10%, 1160/5 249). From 2012 to 2015, the top three causes of deaths were malignant tumor, cardiocerebrovascular diseases and respiratorysystem diseases. From 2016 to 2019,the top three causes of deaths were cardiocerebrovascular diseases, malignant tumor, and respiratory system diseases. The most common cause in cardiocerebrovascular diseases of death was coronary heart disease (51.47%,735/1 428), cerebrovascular disease (43.70%,624/1 428),and hypertension(4.34%, 62/1 428). Among the patients with malignant tumor death, first cause of death waslung malignant tumor (37.53%, 507/1 351), the others in turn were gastric carcinoma (11.10%,150/1 351) and intestinal cancer (11.10%,150/1 351). Among the patients with respiratory system diseases, first cause of death was pulmonary infection (69.66%,808/1 160), the others in turn were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (15.43%, 179/1 160) and interstitial lung disease (5.09%, 59/1 160). Conclusions:The average age of elderly inpatients in medical department is (78.52 ± 7.82) years. The death age of male is less than that of female, and the number is slightly more than that of female. The top three causes of deaths of elderly inpatients in medical department are cardiocerebrovascular diseases, malignant tumor, respiratorysystem diseases. From 2012 to 2015 the first cause of deaths is malignant tumor. From 2016 to 2019, the cardiocerebrovascular diseases rise to the first.

Objective To evaluate the intra-and inter-rater reliability of MyotonPRO for Achilles tendon properties measured. Methods Twenty healthy subjects were recruited to measure Achilles tendon properties using a novel hand-held Myoton-PRO device by two testers, one of the testers re-tested five days later. The reliability was assessed using in-tra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis, and minimum detectable changes (MDC) was calculated. The Achilles tendon properties of the dominant or non-dominant leg was compared. The correlation between body mass and Achilles tendon properties was examined. Results The intra-rater reliabilities of Achilles tendon properties were ICCleft=0.884 and ICCright=0.904; the inter-rater reli-abilities were ICCleft=0.883 and ICCright=0.945. The MDC was 36.64 N/m. Bland-Altman plots showed good agreement. There was no significant difference in Achilles tendon properties between dominant and non-domi-nant legs (t<1.236, P>0.05). The body mass positively correlated with Achilles tendon properties (r>0.477, P<0.05). Conclusion The intra-and inter-rater reliabilities of MyotonPRO were good in measuring Achilles tendon properties in healthy subjects. No significant difference was found between dominant and non-dominant legs. The body mass positively correlated with Achilles tendon properties in healthy subjects.

BACKGROUNDA wealth of evidence has indicated that labor epidural analgesia is associated with an increased risk of hyperthermia and overt clinical fever. Recently, evidence is emerging that the epidural analgesia-induced fever is associated with the types of the epidural analgesia and the variations in the epidural analgesia will affect the incidence of fever. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of epidural analgesia with 0.075% or 0.1% ropivacaine on the maternal temperature during labor.

METHODSTwo hundred healthy term nulliparas were randomly assigned to receive epidural analgesia with either 0.1% ropivacaine or 0.075% ropivacaine. Epidural analgesia was initiated with 10 ml increment of the randomized solution and 0.5 µg/ml sufentanyl after a negative test dose of 5 ml of 1.5% lidocaine, and maintained with 7 ml bolus doses of the above mentioned mixed analgesics every 30 minutes by the patient-controlled epidural analgesia. The measurements included the maternal oral temperature, visual analog scale pain scores, labor events and neonatal outcomes.

RESULTSEpidural analgesia with 0.075% ropivacaine could significantly lower the mean maternal temperature at 4 hours after the initiation of analgesia and the oxytocin administration during labor compared with the one with 0.1% ropivacaine. Moreover, 0.075% ropivacaine treatment could provide satisfactory pain relief during labor and had no significant adverse effects on the labor events and neonatal outcomes.

CONCLUSIONEpidural analgesia with 0.075% ropivacaine may be a good choice for the epidural analgesia during labor.

Adult ; Amides ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Analgesia, Epidural ; adverse effects ; Analgesia, Obstetrical ; adverse effects ; Body Temperature ; drug effects ; Female ; Fever ; chemically induced ; Humans ; Labor, Obstetric ; Pregnancy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore whether coal tar pitch smoke extract (CTP) induced pyroptosis in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B).

METHODSBEAS-2B cells were treated with different concentrations of CTP (1, 3 µg/ml) for 8h and 24 h, respectively. Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) levels in the supernatants of cell culture media were measured with LDH activity or human IL-1β ELISA kit, respectively. The activity of Caspase-1 was measured with Caspase-1 colorimetric assay kit.

RESULTSThe activity of caspase-1 in 1 and 3 µg/ml CTP groups were (9.29 ± 0.30) and (8.67 ± 0.59) µmol/ml respectively which were both significantly increased compared to that (7.42 ± 0.59) µmol/ml in the control group (P < 0.05) after 8 h exposure, but there was no significant difference in the activity of LDH and levels of IL-1β in the cell culture media among the CTP and control groups. 24 h after exposure, the activity of LDH in the CTP (1, 3 µg/ml) groups were (1323.03 ± 28.53) and (1148.45 ± 16.42) U/dl respectively which were significantly higher than that (1091.93 ± 26.64) U/dl in the control group (P < 0.05), and the levels of IL-1β in the CTP (1 and 3 µg/ml) groups were (125.37 ± 25.00) pg/ml and (92.04 ± 19.09) pg/ml respectively which were significantly higher than that (46.20 ± 14.43) pg/ml in the control group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the activity of Caspase-1 among CTP and control groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCTP treatment induced early increase in caspase-1 activity followed by the increase in LDH activity and IL-1 levels, indicative of pyroptosis in human bronchial epithelial cells.

Apoptosis ; Bronchi ; cytology ; Caspase 1 ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Coal Tar ; adverse effects ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Smoke ; adverse effects

In order to investigate whether cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells can induce apoptosis of bcr-abl(+) K562 cells, apoptosis of K562 cells and CEM cells induced by CIK cells, etoposide or camptothecin was detected with flow cytometry DNA assay. RT-PCR showed that K562 cells expressed the bcr-abl fusion gene, K 562 cells, K562 cells/etoposide or K562 cells/camptothecin groups showed no sub-G(1) peak. K562 cells/CIK cells group showed sub-G(1) peak (38.1%). CEM cells showed no sub-G(1) peak. CEM cells/camptothecin or CEM cells/etoposide groups showed sub-G(1) peak (23.5% or 32.3% respectively). CEM cells/CIK cells group showed sub-G(1) peak (45.4%). Etoposide or camptothecin did not induce apoptosis of K562 cells. CIK cells induce apoptosis of K562 cells. Bcr-abl fusion gene prevented apoptosis induced by etoposide or camptothecin, but did not prevent apoptosis induced by CIK cells. This property may support the observed adoptive immunologic effect of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation and donor lymphocyte transfusions of CML case relapsing after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; immunology ; Camptothecin ; pharmacology ; Coculture Techniques ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; Etoposide ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; metabolism ; Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated ; cytology ; immunology

Anterior megalophthalmos (AM) is an uncommon developmental anomaly of the anterior segment of the eye with a constellation of findings that includes enlarged cornea, deep anterior chamber, posterior positioning of the iris and lens, iris stroma atrophy, hypoplasia of iris dilator, pupil displacement, large capsular bag, lens subluxation, prematurely cataract and the tendency to retinal detachment. AM, especially when symptoms are mild, is not an easy disease to diagnose. We present 3 AM cases that were misdiagnosed as congenital cataract with weak zonule and megalocornea. Intraocular lenses (IOLs) dislocated after standard cataract surgeries and subsequent surgery (replacing the dislocated IOLs with iris-claw intraocular lenses) achieved satisfactory outcome. Although rare, AM should be included in the differential diagnosis of enlarged cornea and we recommend implanting Artisan lens in AM patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Cataract Extraction ; adverse effects ; Diagnostic Errors ; Eye Abnormalities ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Lens Subluxation ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged

Studies have found that metformin is not only the preferred drug for lowering blood sugar, but also shows lipid-lowering and weight-loss effects. The purpose of this study was to use a hyperlipidemia hamster model to investigate the lipid-lowering effect of metformin and its effect on important metabolic pathways in lipid metabolism disorders. Fifty golden hamsters were divided into a control group, a model group, metformin high- and low-dose groups, and a simvastatin group. A high-fat diet was fed for 1 week to create the model, and then drug was administered for 11 weeks with the high-fat diet. Serum was taken for measurement of blood lipid and blood glucose at 2, 6, and 9 weeks after administration, and at weeks 3, 5, and 9 feces and urine were collected for ¹H NMR metabolomics tests. After 11 weeks of intravenous injection of [U-¹³C₆] glucose, serum was collected for a ¹³C NMR metabolic flux test. The results showed that the administration of metformin can significantly reduce blood lipids and glucose levels and can significantly affect metabolic pathways such as sugar metabolism, lipid metabolism, ketone metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and intestinal flora metabolism. The results of the metabolic flux analysis showed that the high-fat diet reduced the metabolism of tricarboxylic acids by 37.48%. After administration of low and high doses of metformin the metabolism of tricarboxylic acid increased by 98.14% and 143.10%, respectively. After administration of simvastatin tricarboxylic acid metabolism increased by 33.18%. The results indicate that metformin has a significant effect on promoting energy metabolism. This study used a combination of metabolomics and metabolic flow to explore the effect of metformin on lipid metabolism disorders and quantifies changes in the key pathway of energy metabolism-the tricarboxylic acid cycle. This study provides useful information for the study of the efficacy and mechanism of metformin, as well as a practical technical method for the screening of lipid-lowering drugs based on a hamster model.