Objective To optimize the extraction conditions for total flavonoids from Cibotium barometz by response surface meth-od(RSM). Methods According to the center combination of Box-Benhnken,using the RSM,the effects of ethanol concentration,the ratio of solid to liquid,the extraction time,and the extraction frequency were studied by central composite design. Results The opti-mal conditions of extraction were as follows:60％ethanol,the ratio of solid to liquid 1:40,refluxing and extracting twice,and 1.5 h for each time. Conclusion The actual extraction yield was 1.44％. The method of extraction has higher extraction efficiency than other methods and can provide a basis for the industrial production of the total flavonoids from S. barometz.

Objective:To investigate the effects of sodium selenite on the cell apoptosis of K562 cells and to elucidate its molecular mechanisms.Methods:K562 cells were treated with various concentrations of sodium selenite at different time points,and then MTT assay was employed to evaluate the effects of sodium selenite on the proliferative inhibition of K562 cells.MTT assay was employed to evaluate the effects of sodium selenite on the proliferative inhibition of K562 cells.Electronmicroscopy,and TUNEL were performed to confirm the apoptosis of K562 cells,RT-PCR was employed to analyze the mRNA expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bax.Colorimetric method were used to measure the activities of caspase-3 of K562.Results:Sodium selenite could inhibit proliferation of K562 cells and induce them to undergo apoptosis.RT-PCR results showed that sodium selenite could decrease the mRNA expression level of Bcl-2 and increase the level of Bax of K562 cells which had been treated with sodium selenite for 48h significantly,and the activity of caspase-3 elevated remarkably too.Compared with the control group,the expression levels of Bcl-2,Bax and acivity of caspase-3 in 20?mol/L sodium selenite treatment group were markedly changed(P

Retrospective studies of duodenal polyps have shown a prevalence of 0.3-4.6% in patients referred to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and histologic classification have been inconsistent. A prospective consecutive study was carried out in 3,871 patients referred to diagnostic endoscopy, Sixteen patients had polyps in the first part of duodenum, for a prevalence 0.41%(0.28-0.53%, 95% confidence interval). Fourteen polyps were either inflammatory(thirteen polyps) or ectopic gastric mucosa(one polyp). Two hyperplasitc polyps were founded. All polyps were benign and sessile, and most of polyps(75%) were solitary.
Classification ; Duodenum ; Endoscopy* ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Humans ; Polyps* ; Prevalence* ; Prospective Studies

We studied arterial oxygen desaturation, using a pulse oximeter, in 132 patients undergoing diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to obtain predictive factors of the change. The baseline arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) level was 98.8+/- 1.2%. During the procedure, oxygen desaturation (SaO2>95%) was found in 90.2% of the patients, Mild oxygen desaturation (95>SaO2>90%) was found in 9.8% of the patients, and there was no severe oxygen desaturation(SaO2<90%). Age(P=0.52), gender(P =0.48), smoking(P =0.71), body mass index(P =0.32), and endoscopy time(P = 0.68) was not related to the degree of oxygen desaturation. These results suggest that oxygen desaturation, which may rarely induce serious cardiopulmonary events, is not frequently observed during non-sedated diagnostic upper endoscopy.
Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal* ; Humans ; Oxygen*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Metformin on the proliferation and collagen synthesis of the human keloids fibroblasts as well as the effect on phosphorylation of Akt/FoxO1 signal transduction pathway.

METHODSFibroblasts of keloid were divided into control group treated with medium solution and experimental groups treated with different concentrations of Metformin. 48 h later CCK-8 assay was adopted to evaluate cell survival; Western blot was performed to detect the Akt and FoxO1 phosphorylation; and Hydroxyproline reagent kit was used to detect the collagen synthesis.

RESULTSWith different concentrations (30, 60, 90, 120 mmol/L) of Metformin, the absorbance of cultured keloid fibroblasts detected by CCK8 assay decreased by (13.30 ± 2.04)%, (22.64 ± 4.70)%, (54.00 ± 5.34)% and (63.12 ± 3.48)%. The growth of fibroblasts was suppressed by Metformin in a dose-dependent manner. It showed that the level of phoshpo-akt and phoshpo-foxOl in keloids fibroblasts in experimental groups was lower than that in the control group and the collagen synthesis were also decreased in experimental groups, all in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSMetformin can effectively inhibit the proliferation and collagen synthesis of the human keloids fibroblasts in vitro, which may be associated with the suppression of phosphorylation of Akt/FoxO1 signaling pathway

Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Collagen ; biosynthesis ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Forkhead Box Protein O1 ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Humans ; Keloid ; pathology ; Metformin ; pharmacology ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

Mucosal melanoma of the head and neck (MMHN) is a rare malignancy.The sinonasal cavity and oral cavity are the most common primary sites.MMHN is a very aggressive malignant tumor,with the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate less than 30％.Currently,the optimal treatment modality remains unclear.In the najority of available retrospective studies,postoperative radiotherapy improves the local control of MMHN,but without significant effect on OS.This article aims to improve our understanding of the clinical features,diagnosis,staging,treatment modalities,and outcomes of this malignancy.

The Balanced Scorecard,as a new strategic management tool,has been widely used in the performance evaluation of Chinese enterprise.This review discussed the application and potential problems of the Balanced Scorecard in the research performance management of the research universities.

The frequency and influence on prognosis of hemorrhagic transformation (HT) after acute ischemic stroke are still uncertain with mixed results in previous studies.Slight hemorrhage transformation may will not worsen stroke patients' short-and long-term prognosis,but some MRI studies suggest that HT may impede patients to get a dramatical improvement of neurological function.We aimed to determine the overall frequency of and risk factors for HT.More importantly,we discussed the mechanism,subtypes of HT and the influence of HT subtypes on prognosis.

Objective Pulmonary sequestration (PS) is a rare disease,and its clinical symptoms are usually related to subsequent pulmonary infections.We analyzed the clinical characteristics of PS complicated by aspergillosis,and reviewed related literature,so as to disclose the association between these two diseases.Methods Sixty-nine patients with surgery-confirmed PS in Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 1990 and December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed,including seven cases complicated by aspergillosis.Clinical manifestation,imaging and surgery of these patients were analyzed.Literature focusing on PS complicated by aspergillosis in pubmed data base was reviewed.Results In these seven patients,four cases were male,and three cases were female.Age at diagnosis ranged from 29 to 58 years old.The interval from onset to definite diagnosis ranged from two weeks to 20 years.Clinical symptoms included productive cough in seven cases,hemoptysis in three cases,chest pain in two cases,and fever in one case.All cases were intralobar PS with four in the left lower lobe and three in the right lower lobe.Consolidation in chest CT was noted in six cases.Cavitation was positive in three cases.Surgery of lung lobe resection was performed in all patients.Aberrant arteries were found during operation with the origin from aortic artery in four cases,phrenic artery in two cases,and intercostal artery in one case.Aspergillosis was diagnosed by pathology in six cases and by lung tissue culture in one case.Conclusions PS complicated by aspergillosis is extremely rare,but the trend of an increase in recent years has been noted.Strict and cautious examinations for microorganisms and pathology will help find relatively insidious aspergillosis.

Objective To investigate the role of interleukin-22 (IL-22) in the pathogenesis of pityriasis rosea (PR).Methods Peripheral venous blood samples were obtained from 48 patients with PR in acute stage and recovery stage and from 20 healthy human controls.Real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR was performed to measure the mRNA expression of IL-22 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs),and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine the level of IL-22 in sera.Results The relative expression level of IL-22 mRNA in the patients with PR in recovery stage was significantly higher than that in the healthy controls (2.89 ±0.91 vs.1.91 ± 0.60,t =3.84,P ＜ 0.05),but lower than that in the patients in acute stage (2.89 ± 0.91 vs.4.15 ±1.36,t =3.61,P ＜ 0.05).Similarly,the level of serum IL-22 was significantly increased in the patients with PR in recovery stage compared with the healthy controls ((21.44 ± 7.33) vs.(13.22 ± 4.26) ng/L,t =4.49,P ＜ 0.05),and increased in the patients with PR in acute stage compared with those in recovery stage ((36.87 ± 10.63) vs.(21.44 ± 7.33) ng/L,t =5.01,P ＜ 0.05).The level of serum IL-22 was positively correlated with the stage of PR (r =0.883,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions IL-22 is overexpressed in PBMCs and sera of patients with PR,implying that IL-22 is involved in the pathogenesis of PR.