OBJECTIVETo understand the comorbid characteristics and distribution of combined treatment of Chinese and Western medicine in depressive patients.

METHODThe descriptive statistic method and association rule were used to analyze the data from 19 general hospitals with 3-A level in China.

RESULTAmong the depressive disorder, the most frequent co-morbid physical diseases included hypertension (24.67%), coronary heart disease (16.10%) and cerebral infarction (12.89%), and the proportion of comorbid changes with the increasing age, from 6.51% to 12.55%, 16.33% and 12.47% for hypertension; from 2.79% to 5.69%, 10.17% and 14.22% for coronary heart disease; from 3.72%, 6.27%, 7.70% and 12.25% for cerebral infarction. The use frequency of the antidepressants is 77.18%, and the use frequency of flupentixol & melitracen is 20.95%. The use frequency of Huoxue Huayu Tongluo of traditional Chinese medicine is 59.97%, with that of 27.91% for Ginkgo biloba extract The combined use frequency of Huoxue Huayu Tongluo of TCM and the antidepressants is the highest, especially for the combined use of Shuxuening injection and fluoxetine.

CONCLUSIONThe most frequent comorbid diseases of depression include three kinds of diseases, such as hypertension, coronary heart disease and cerebral infarction, and its proportion gradually increased with the growth of age. The single use frequency of flupentixol & melitracen and G. biloba extract is the highest, while the combined use of Shuxuening injection and fluoxetine is the highest.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anthracenes ; therapeutic use ; Antidepressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Combined Modality Therapy ; methods ; Depressive Disorder ; drug therapy ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fluoxetine ; therapeutic use ; Flupenthixol ; therapeutic use ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

Host genes involved in lipid metabolism are differentially affected during the early stages of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.Here we demonstrate that artificial up-regulation of fatty acid biosynthesis has a positive effect on the replication of the HCV full-length replicon when cells were treated with nystatin.Conversely,the HCV RNA replication was decreased when fatty acid biosynthesis was inhibited with 25-hydroxycholesterol and PDMP(D-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3- morpholino-1-propanol).In agreement with these results,the expression level of GlcT-1(ceramide glucosyltransferase),a host glucosyltransferase in the first step of GSL (glycosphingolipid) biosynthesis,was found to be closely associated with the expression and replication of HCV RNA.On the other hand,the viral RNA can also activate GlcT-1 in the early stage of viral RNA transfection in vitro.To identify viral factors that are responsible for GlcT-1 activation,we constructed ten stable Vero cell lines that express individual HCV proteins.Based on the analyses of these cell lines and transient transfection assay of the GlcT-1 promoter regions,we conclude that HCV proteins,especially NS5A and NS5B,have positive effects on the expression of GlcT-1.It is possible that NS5A and NS5B stimulate transcription factor(s) to activate the expression of GlcT-1 by increasing its transcription level.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anxiety and depression status of patients with nasal septum deviation before and after surgery, and explore the relationship between anxiety and depression and nasal symptoms. METHOD: By means of visual analogue scale (VAS) as the evaluation index of quality of life, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were used to analyze statuses before and after surgery. The 98 patients with nasal septum deviation were collected. RESULT: The preoperative SAS/SDS scores of the nasal septum deviation patients were higher than those of the national standards. The level of anxiety and depression were lower than the national norm after treatment. The patients of the normal and moderate SAS/SDS scores felt better after surgery. The patients of the severe SAS/SDS scores felt the symptoms improve poor. CONCLUSION Doctors should pay attention to the application of the SAS/SDS in patients of nasal septum deviation. Surgeon should actively communicate with severe patients in psychological problems, and strictly control the surgical indication of such patients.
Anxiety ; complications ; Depression ; complications ; Humans ; Nasal Septum ; abnormalities ; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales ; Quality of Life ; Self Report

Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Rickettsia ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Rickettsia Infections ; epidemiology ; transmission ; Ticks ; microbiology

BACKGROUND: As a kind of semitransparent membrane, human amniotic membrance contains many kinds of nutrients, which is a good biological material loaded with keratinocytes.OBJECTIVE: To construct epidermal substitute of the skin from human amniotic membrane loaded with porcine keratinocytes and examine the morphological characteristics of the growth and proliferation of keratinocytes seeded on human amniotic membrane.DESIGN: Single sample study and repetitive measured observation based on the cells.SETTING: Institute of Combined Injuries of Chinese PLA, Academy of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: The experiment was completed in the State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury and Institute of Combined Injuries of Chinese PLA, Academy of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA from January to November 2001. Porcine keratinocytes was collected from Guizhou minipigs aged 3 weeks.METHODS: The primarily cultured keratinocytes of Guizhou minipigs were subcuhured, expanded and bred on the stroma surface of human amniotic membrance at the density of 1.63 × 105/cm2. The growth and proliferation of keratinocytes were observed under inverted microscope every day. From the 3rd day and the 15th day after being cultured, the growth of keratinocytes on human amniotic membrane was examined under light microscope and electron microscope.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The growth of keratinocytes on human amniotic membrane was examined RESULTS: Keratinocytes evidently adhered to the stroma surface of human amniotic membrane about 30 minutes after being cultured, which was observed under inverted microscope. Most keratinocytes grew and adhered to the stroma surface of human amniotic membrane within 24 hours. Monolayer of keratinocytes formed and completely covered human amniotic membrane within 3 days. It was observed under the light microscope that the monolayer of keratinocytes adhered to human amniotic membrane and arrayed tightly. The keratinocytes presented in the shape of polygon, and plasmalemmas of keratinocytes formed many pseudopods under the observation with scanning electron microscope. Keratinocytes adhered to human amniotic membrane well and with many keratinofilaments in them under the observation with transmission electron microscope. Keratinocytes arrayed on human amniotic membrane densely with many cellular debris and some keratinocytes formed cavitations in them due to aging after growth for 15 days under the observation with inverted microscope.CONCLUSION: Human amitotic membrane is a good carrier of keratinocytes cultured on it in vitro, and is able to promote the proliferation of keratinocytes significantly. However, when keratinocytes were loaded on the human amniotic membrane for 15 days, some keratinocytes formed cavitations in them due to aging.

This study was designed to investigate the expression of aminopeptidase N (APN)/CD13 on intraembryonic AGM stromal cells, and the change of its enzymatic activity after irradiation injury. The expression of APN/CD13 on AGM stromal cells was assayed by RT-PCR and immunihistochemistry. After the stromal cells in AGM region were irradiated with 8.0 Gy of (60)Co gamma-rays, APN/CD13 enzymatic activity was measured by spectrophotometer at different time points. The result showed that AGM stromal cells strongly expressed APN/CD13. The enzymatic activity of APN/CD13 decreased temporarily after irradiation injury, then increased to higher level 4 h after irradiation, and it returned to the pre-irradiation level 24 to 48 h after the irradiation. The enzymatic activity of APN/CD13 was temporarily enhanced after irradiation injury, which might be one of the compensatory mechanisms that promote the hematopoietic recovery after irradiation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of transabdominal ultrasonography (TAUS) in preoperative assessment of TNM stage and tumor angiogenesis for patients with gastric carcinoma.

METHODSSixty- four patients with gastric carcinoma preoperatively underwent TAUS, in whom transabdominal color Doppler ultrasonography was used for measuring color Doppler vascularity index (CDVI) of each tumor in 37 cases and microvessel density (MVD) was evaluated by using immunohistochemical staining of surgical specimens with anti- CD34 antibody.

RESULTSThe overall accuracy rate was 56.0% for T staging of gastric carcinoma (T (1) 2/3 cases, T (2) 28.6% , T (3) 73.1% , T (4) 50.0% , respectively) by TAUS. The diagnostic accuracy rate was 63.3% for lymph node status of gastric carcinoma. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for lymph node metastasis was 37.9% and 100% respectively. The overall accuracy for N staging of gastric carcinoma was 57.1% (N (0) 100% , N (1) 16.7% , N (2) 35.3% , respectively). The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for determining distant metastases was 58.3% and 100% respectively. The CDVI of gastric carcinoma determined by color Doppler ultrasonography was significantly correlated to vascular invasion (P=0.0418), a linear correlation between CDVI and MVD was determined by logistic regression analysis (r=0.5628, P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTAUS can be a routine diagnostic approach for preoperative gastric carcinoma patients.

Abdomen ; diagnostic imaging ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microvessels ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; diagnostic imaging ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; methods

Recently, the interactions between hepatitis C virus (HCV) genes and the host cell factors were the focus of this field. Cell factors in the different biochemical pathway were approved to be interfered when HCV infection. To make sure which HCV gene(s) was the major factor during the interaction process, ten eukaryotic expression plasmids containing different functional genes of HCV: Core, E1, E2, p7, NS2, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A and NS5B were transfected into the CHO-K1 cells respectively. Then ten stable cell lines expressing different HCV functional proteins were constructed under the selective pressure of G418. DNA and mRNA of the HCV genes were both detected by PCR and RT-PCR respectively in the corresponding stable cell lines, freezation and anabiosis would not lose the HCV genes. Besides, the El, E2 and NS5B proteins were detected by Western-blot which demonstrated that the HCV genes have formed stable expression in the host cells. The activity of UDP-glucose ceramide glucosyltransferase (UGCG) in the stable cell lines increased in different degree by TLC assay. For example, the activity of UGCG in CHO-K1-E2 and CHO-K1-p7 was doubled according to the control cells,and in CHO-K1-NS2 and CHO-K1-NS5A was about 1.6 times compared with the control cells. The establishment of the stable cell lines containing different single HCV gene will provide foundation for investigating the interactions between the virus and the host factors, and for the filtration of antiviral medicine.
Animals ; CHO Cells ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Glucosyltransferases ; biosynthesis ; metabolism ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Viral Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVE We have recently reported that cysteinyl leukotriene (CysLT) signaling plays an important role in microglial interleukin (IL)-1β secretion and subsequent neurotoxicity. The present study aimed to examine microglial morphological changes and the upstream molecular underlying IL-1βproduction in CysLT receptor agonist leukotriene D4 (LTD4)-treated BV2 microglia in vitro. METHODS Twenty-four hours after murine microglial BV2 cells were stimulated with LTD4 (1-100 nmol·L- 1), the cell proliferation and morphology were observed. The expression level of cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease 1 (CASP1) protein was measured by Western blotin BV2 cells. In addition, BV2 cells were pretreated with or without CysLT1 receptor antagonist montelukast for 1 h and the effects of monte-lukaston LTD4-stimulated microglial activation and CASP1 expression were evaluated. RESULTS The number of BV2 cells had an increasing tendency after 24 h treatment with LTD4, but no significant differences were observed between the control and LTD4-treated cells (P>0.05). Under basal and resting conditions, BV2 microglial cells displayed a ramified morphology. However, LTD4 at 100 nmool · L- 1 drove microglial morphological changes from a ramified towards an amoeboid shape. The expression of CASP1 protein was significantly upregulated in 100 nmool·L-1 LTD4-treated BV2 microglia (P<0.01). Furthermore, pretreatment with CysLT1 receptor antagonist montelukast prevented cell morphological changes and suppressed the increased CASP1 expression in LTD4-treated BV2 cells (P<0.05). CONCLUSION CysLT receptor agonist LTD4 induces morphological changes and CASP1 expressionin BV2 microglia, which can be inhibited by CysLT1 antagonist. These results suggest the involvement of CysLT signaling in microglial morphological changes and CASP1 expression.

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of survivin and PI3K/AKT pathway in the pathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris (PV).

METHODSPlaque-like lesions collected from 22 patients with PV in progressive stage and 18 normal control skin specimens were examined using immunohistochemical staining, Western blotting and real-time quantitative PCR for expressions of survivin, PI3K and AKT in the keratinocytes, and their correlation was analyzed. A small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to knock down AKT in cultured HaCaT cells, and Western blotting was used to detect the changes in the expression of survivin. RESULTS Compared with normal skin, PV lesions showed obviously up-regulated expressions of survivin, PI3K and AKT in the keratinocytes. Survivin expression was positively correlated with PI3K (r=0.4510, P=0.0351) and AKT (r=0.4423, P=0.0393) in the keratinocytes in PV lesions. In cultured HaCaT cells, siRNA-mediated knockdown of AKT caused down-regulation of survivin expression.

CONCLUSIONSurvivin and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway may participate in the occurrence and progression of PV.