Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; blood ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant

A large number of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in tumor tissues create a favorable environment for the development of tumor. CAFs inhibit immune cells activation and viability by cytokine secretion, and CAFs prohibit drugs and immune cells infiltration by producing extracellular matrix to weaken cancer treatment efficacy. Regulating CAFs or overcoming CAFs barriers are new strategies for cancer therapy. Hence, designing nano-carriers for regulating CAFs to suppress tumor progression or promoting drug delivery to tumor site by overcoming CAFs barriers has attracted much attention. Therefore, this manuscript reviewed the recent progresses of nano-carriers for CAFs-targeting cancer therapies, in order to provide a reference for clinical cancer treatment.

Asthenia ; physiopathology ; Cyanosis ; physiopathology ; Expert Testimony ; Fatigue ; physiopathology ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Walking

Objective To discuss the diagnostic value of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in differentiating vertebral metastatic tumors from benign deseases after studying the early changes of signal intensity.Methods Twenty patients were scanned by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.The parameters of signal intensity were measured and calculated,and time-intensity cures(TICs)were drawn.Then,they were compared with those of normal verte- braes,the characteristics were analyzed.Results The parameters of vertebral metastatic tumors:peak signal intensi- ty,signal intensity minimum signal intensity of post-peak,peak slope,initial ratio of enhancement,maximum ratio of enhancement was respectively(50.61?11.38),(46.75?10.23),(0.73?0.12),(0.33?0.08),(1.03?0.31); that of normal vertebraes was respectively(40.53?12.12),(34.72?14.06),(0.31?0.11),(-0.25?0.05), (0.69?0.28);and ten normal cases showed negative in initial percent of enhancement,but only two abnormal ver- tebraes showed that.All of the above had significant statistical difference.Four types of TICs were concluded:early rapid rise and early rapid descent followed by steady phase(type A),persistently rise(type B),rise phase followed by steady phase(type C),rise phase followed by rapid descent phase(type D).TICs of abnormal vertebraes were respec- tively 6,5,5,5 cases;types of normal vertebraes were mainly type C,15 cases.Type A and type B and the type with the characteristic of early rapid descent phase were features of abnormal vertebraes;type C was the feature of normal ones.Conclusions Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI could quantitatively show the characteristics of early changes of signal intensity of vertebral metastatic tumors,which were significant statistically different from those of normal ver- tebraes.Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI was worth performing in the early diagnosis of vertebral metastatic tu- mors.

Background The fundus autofluorescence (FAF)can reflect the function of retinal pigment epithelium(RPE) cell.As an invasive examination,it has been extensive used in retina disease,but there has not any report in syphilitic posterior uveitis.Objective This study was to characterize and contrast the FAF and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA),indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) findings in patients with syphilitic posterior uveitis.Methods A retrospective series of cases observational study was designed.The clinical data of 27 eyes from 18 patients with syphilitic posterior uveitis were included in Shanghai First People's Hospital from 2010 May to 2012 October,and all the patients were diagnosed by serologic and ophthalmic tests.The patients were assigned to acute stage group(with the course ＜2 months)and chronic stage group(with the course ≥ 2 months).FFA,ICGA and FAF were performed respectively on all the patients,and the examination results were compared and analyzed.Results In the affected eyes with syphilitic posterior uveitis,the FFA image showed a retinal vasculitis sign and mottle-like fluorescence appearance in posterior pole and equator zone,and some affected eyes exhibited edema of optic disc and macula.Hypoautofluorescence zone was seen in the acute stage group and cystoid macular edema was found in the chronic stage group.ICGA presented with a wider damage of RPE,especially in the later phase of ICGA.A confluent of hyperautofluorescence with hypoautofluorescence in the posterior fundus,punctiform hyperautofluorescence as well as hypoautofluorescence in papillitis and macular edema were found on the FAF image.Conclusions The pathological basis of syphilitic posterior uveitis is retinal vasculitis and papillitis.ICGA indicates the damage of choroid membranes and RPE,and FAF reflects a metabolism disorder of RPE in the acute stage and atrophy and loss of RPE in the chronic stage.FAF is helpful for the diagnosis of syphilitic posterior uveitis as an assistant index.

High resolution melting (HRM), an important technology for genotyping and mutation scanning, has broad prospects in the authentification of traditional Chinese medicine. This paper selected universal trnH-psbA primers and used HRM to establish a new methods for identification of Akebia herbs. PCR was conduct at the annealing temperature of 58 degrees C and 35 cycles. The range of the DNA template concentration, the primer concentration and the Mg2+ ion concentration were further analyzed. The results showed the Tm values of Caulis Akebiae was (81.84 ± 0.16), (85.28 ± 0.16) degrees C and Caulis Clematidis Armandii was (83.22 ± 0.19) degrees C and Caulis Aristolochiae manshuriensis was (81.67 ± 0.14) degrees C, (84.24 ± 0.10) degrees C with 5-125 mg - L-' DNA template, 0.4 μmol x L(-1) primer, 2.0 mmol x L(-1) Mg2+. This method can achieve the authentification of Akebia herbs and is simple, fast, high-throughput, visual.
Chemistry Techniques, Analytical ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; chemistry ; genetics ; Genotype ; Magnoliopsida ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Transition Temperature

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of testosterone undecanoate (TU) in the treatment of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) by meta-analysis.

METHODSWe searched Pubmed (until April 1, 2014), Embase (until March 28, 2014), Cochrane Library (until April 17, 2014), CBM (from January 1, 2001 to February 2, 2014), CNKI (from January 1, 2001 to February 2, 2014), Wanfang Database (from January 1, 2000 to February 2, 2014), and VIP Database (from January 1, 2000 to Febru ary 2, 2014) for randomized controlled trials of TU for the treatment of LOH. We evaluated the quality of the identified literature and performed meta-analysis on the included studies using the Rveman5. 2 software.

RESULTSTotally, 14 studies were included after screening, which involved 1 686 cases. Compared with the placebo and blank control groups, TU treatment significantly increased the levels of serum total testosterone (SMD = 6.22, 95% CI 3.99 to 8.45, P < 0.05) and serum free testosterone (SMD = 4.35, 95% CI 1.86 to 6. 85, P < 0.05) but decreased the contents of luteinizing hormone (WMD = -2.23, 95% CI -4.03 to -0.42, P < 0.05), sex hormone binding globulin (WMD = 2.00, 95% CI 1.38 to 2.63, P < 0.05). TU also remarkably reduced the scores of Partial Androgen Deficiency of the Aging Males (WMD = -9.49, 95% CI -12.96 to -6.03, P < 0.05) and Aging Males Symptoms rating scale (WMD = -2.76, 95% CI -4.85 to -0.66, P <0.05) but increased the hemoglobin level (SMD = 2.35, 95% CI 0.29 to 4.41, P < 0.05) and packed-cell volume (SMD = 4.35, 95% CI 1.36 to 7.33, P < 0.05). However, no significant changes were shown in aspertate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, prostate-specific antigen, or prostate volume after TU treatment (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTU could significantly increase the serum testosterone level and improve the clinical symptoms of LOH patients without inducing serious adverse reactions. However, due to the limited number and relatively low quality of the included studies, the above conclusion could be cautiously applied to clinical practice.

Androgens ; therapeutic use ; Hemoglobin A ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; blood ; drug therapy ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; pharmacology

Fusion tags are originally developed to facilitate the purification of recombinant protein from crude extracts. In recent years, the discovery of different tags and the development of fusion strategy make the function of fusion tags diversified. However, there was no a cure-all fusion tag for different applications. We here give an overview of fusion tag technology and the different applications of fusion tags, including the purification, detection and oriented immobilization of recombinant protein, the visualization of bioevent in vivo, the enhancement of the yield of protein, the improvement of the solubility and stability of the expressed protein.
Recombinant Proteins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Solubility

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) technology originated in China during the Eastern Jin Dynasty and has rapidly developed over the past two decades, becoming a primary method for studying the causal relationship between gut microbiota and the occurrence and progression of diseases. At the same time, the therapeutic effects of FMT in the field of gastrointestinal diseases have gained widespread recognition and are gradually expanding into other disease areas. The FMT procedure is relatively complex, and there is currently no standardized method; its success is influenced by various factors, including the donor, recipient, processing of the fecal material, and the method of implantation. Given the increasingly recognized relationship between gut microbiota and various diseases, FMT has become a research hotspot in both scientific studies and clinical applications, achieving a series of significant advancements. To help researchers better understand this technology, this paper will outline the development history of FMT, summarize common operational methods in research and clinical settings, review its application progress, and look forward to future development directions.

Objective: On the basis of typical cases, the objective of this study is to assess the service quality of primary healthcare institutions under the vertically integrated model from the perspective of demanding side.Methods: The vertical model between Renhe Hospital and Lixian Township Health Center was selected as the case study.Quantitative data were collected by exit review using Primary health-Care quality service Assessment Tool (PCAT)-Chinese version from the patients seeking services in Lixian.Quantitative data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression equations while qualitative data were analyzed by thematic framework analysis.Results: Under the vertical model, the PCAT total score was 20.09.The scores on the first diagnosis, continuity of care, and comprehensiveness of care and coordination of care were 6.59, 3.27, 4.58 and 5.62 respectively.The scores on the three dimensional extensions, family-centered, community-oriented, medical culture were 3.07, 1.86 and 2.67 respectively.The difference was significant for the PCAT total score between a number of visits and the length of waiting time for services in Lixian.Conclusions: Under the vertical model, primary healthcare institutions did better in the first diagnosis while weaker in continuity and the three dimensional extensions.With the development of the integration, the primary healthcare institutions need to strengthen the continuity and downward referral in the future.Future researches and follow-up, analysis is needed to track the impact of the vertically integrated model.