Objective To explore the inhibition effect of Cysteine-rich 61 (CCN1; Cyr61) specific siRNA expression vector on RNV in a mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR).Methods One hundred and twenty healthy C57BL/6J mice were chosen and randomly divided into the experimental group and control group,with 60 mice in each group.The experimental group was intravitreously injected with CCN1siRNA recombinant plasmids.The control group was injected with vector plasmids.Adenosine diphosphate-ase stained retina flat-mounts was performed to assess the retinal vascular profiles,retinal section with HE staining was applied to count the number of new vascular cell nuclei and the protein and mRNA expression of CCN1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were detected by immunohistochemistry,Western blot and Real-time RT-PCR.Results Compared with control group,regular distributions,good branches and reduced density of retinal neovascularization were observed in the experimental group.The number of nucleus of vascular endothelial cells breaking through the inner limiting membrane was obviously less in the experimental group than that in the control group (t=8.756,P＜ 0.05).The expression of CCN1 and VEGF were obviously decreased in the experimental group compared with the control group (all P＜0.05).Conclusion The development of RNV of ROP can be markedly inhibited by RNA interference targeting CCN1,and CCNlsiRNA may provide an effective method for preventing vascular proliferative retinopathy.

Nicotinic acid could increase high density lipoprotein and reduce serum total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides in human bodies, thus is frequently applied in treating low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and hypertriglyceridemia in clinic. However, according to the findings, nicotinic acid could also cause adverse effects, such as skin flush, beside its curative effects. In this study, bioisosterism, fragment-based search and Lipinski's Rule of Five were used to preliminarily screen out potential TCM ingredients that may have similar pharmacological effects with nicotinic acid from Traditional Chinese medicine database (TCMD). Afterwards, homology modeling and flexible docking were used to further screen out potential nicotinic acid receptor agonists. As a result, eleven candidate compounds were derived from eight commonly used traditional Chinese medicines. Specifically, all of the candidate compounds' interaction with nicotinic acid receptor was similar to nicotinic acid, and their docking scores were all higher than that of nicotinic acid, but their druggability remained to be further studied. Some of the eight source traditional Chinese medicines were used to lower lipid according to literature studies, implying that they may show effect through above means. In summary, this study provides basis and reference for extracting new nicotinic acid receptor agonists from traditional Chinese medicines and improving the medication status of hyperlipidemia.
Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Humans ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Structure ; Nicotinic Acids ; chemistry ; Nicotinic Agonists ; chemistry ; Protein Binding ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; agonists ; chemistry ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; chemistry

Objective To evaluate the value of N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in patients with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.Methods Forty-three patients with diastolic heart failure were enrolled. Pulsed wave (PW) Doppler technology was used to detect early diastolic mitral velocity (E) and TDI was performed to determine the mitral annulus velocity of early diastolic phase (Em). According to the E/Em, patients were divided into three groups: group Ⅰ (E/Em ＜8),group Ⅱ (E/Em 8-15) and group Ⅲ (E/Em ＞ 15). The plasma NT-proBNP was measured. Results The plasma NT-proBNP in group Ⅲ [( 1119 ± 3123) ng/L] was higher than that in group Ⅱ [(684± 1742) ng/L] and group Ⅰ [(276±438) ng/L] (P＜0.01),and the plasma NT-proBNP in group Ⅱ was higher than that in group Ⅰ (P ＜ 0.01 ). The plasma NT-proBNP had positive correlation with E/Em (r = 0.438,P ＜ 0.01 ). Conclusion The plasma NT-proBNP and TDI are useful to evaluate the left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

Objective To assess the neuropsychological characteristics in active epileptic patients and investigate itsrisk factors. Methods Ninety adult epileptic patients included 60 active epileptic patients (two or more unprovoked seizures within 12 months) and 30 age-, sex-, education-, course of disease- and seizure type-matched seizure-free subjects (without epileptic seizure for at least 1 year) . The neuropsychological tests including trail making test,digit symbol test, verbal fluency test,digit span test and hamilton depression scale( HAMD) ,were used to detect mental and motor speed, attention, language, working memory and depression symptoms respectively. The neuropsychological tests were compared between active and seizure-free epileptic patients and identified the risk factors of neuropsychological deficits in active epileptic patients. Results Compared to seizure-free subjects, active epileptic patients had significantly worse scores in digit symbol test, verbal fluency test, digit span test ((47.45 ±18. 812) vs(56.40 ±13. 631), (25. 25 ±8. 163) vs(30.40 ±8. 414), (10. 39 ±2. 228) vs( 11. 80 ± 2.074) respectively) ; more time to accomplish the trail making test A and B((64. 35 ±31.710) vs( 45. 47 ± 16. 309) , ( 133. 18 ± 47. 331 ) vs ( 98. 00 ± 35. 003 ) respectively) ; and higher scores in depressive symptoms ((9.12 ±6.219)vs(3.77 ±3.997) ,all P<0.05). Within active epileptic group,significant predictors of neuropsychological deficits were identified in a stepwise linear regression analysis: advancing age was significantly negatively correlated with digit symbol test(β = -0. 468, P = 0. 000) , digit span test (β = -0. 439, P = 0. 000), trail making test A (β =0.365, P = 0.003) and B(β = 0.346, P=0.002) ; higher scores on depressive symptoms was significantly negatively correlated with digit symbol test (β = -0.244, P = 0.015) ; mental work,high-education level and monotherapy were positively correlated with some of the cognitive function subscales. Conclusion This study suggests that active epilepsy can have a direct adverse effect on cognition and depression symptoms. Multi-drug therapy, severity of depression symptoms, advancing age, low-education level and non-mental work are the predictors of neuropsychological impairment in active epilepsy. In addition, good seizure control even after 1 year can have a beneficial impact on cognitive and depression prognosis.

BACKGROUND:Conventional therapies for lumbar spondylolisthesis can result in trauma,bleeding and low back pain.With the vigorous development of spinal biomechanics and novel spinal fixation systems,we have more understanding on the reduction and fusion after spondylolisthesis.OBJECTIVE:To observe the clinical effects of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusionvia the quadrant system on lumbar spondylolisthesis and related biomechanical changes.METHODS:A retrospective analysis was done in 23 patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis undergoing transforaminal lumbar interbody fusionviathe quadrant system admitted from June 2012 to September 2013.Oswestry disability index and visual analog scale score were detected at 3 months and 1 year after treatment,as wel as fusion conditions and internal fixation with or without loosening or breakage.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Al patients were successfuly treated,with no cerebrospinal fluid leakage and nerve injury.Incisions were healed wel in al cases except one case suffered from incision infection that wascontroled after 10 days of antibiotic treatment.Al the patients were folowed up.The Oswestry disability indexes and visual analog scale scores were significantly improved at 3 months and 1 year after treatment (P ＜0.05),but there was no difference in these two scores at 3 months and 1 year after treatment (P＞0.05).The improvement rates of Oswestry disability index and visual analog scale score were (65.3±14.8)％and (58.2±12.0)％,respectively.These findings indicate that the transforaminal lumbar interbody fusionvia the quadrant system is safe and effective to correct lumbar spondylolisthesis,maintains the biomechanical stability,improves patient's symptoms,reduces the incidence of low back pain and improves the quality of life.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of mometasone furoate dry powder inhalation(MF DPI) in treating mild and moderate asthma .Methods The databases of PubMed ,EMBASE ,CINAHL were retrieved .The randomized ,controlled trials(RCT) on mometasone furoate dry powder inhalation in treating mild and moderate asthma were collected .The quality evalua‐tion and the data extraction were performed according to the Cochrane systematic evaluation method .The RevMan 5 .0 .2 software was adopted for conducting statistical analysis .Results A total of 9 RCT involving 1 795 patients with mild and moderate asthma were included .The meta‐analysis results showed that MF DPI 200 mcg/d improved FEV1(MD=0 .24 ,95% CI:0 .17 -0 .30) ,am‐PEF(MD= 25 .25 ,95% CI:8 .18 -42 .32) ,pmPEF(MD= 16 .00 ,95% CI:2 .10 -29 .90);MF DPI 400 mcg/d improved FEV1 (MD=0 .32 ,95% CI:0 .25-0 .39) ,amPEF(MD=36 .44 ,95% CI:23 .82-49 .05) ,pmPEF (MD=28 .50 ,95% CI:14 .11-42 .89) , which suggested that MF DPI 200 mcg/d and MF DPI 400 mcg/d improving FEV1 ,amPEF and pmPEF was higher than the place‐bo ;for reducing patient′s early morning dyspnea and albuterol dose ,MF DPI 200 mcg/d and MF DPI 400 mcg/d were superior to placebo .For reducing patient′s early morning wheezing ,MF DPI 200 mcg/d and MF DPI 400 mcg/d were not superior to placebo . For the occurrence of adverse events ,there was no statistical difference between MF DPI 200 mcg/d and MF DPI 400 mcg/d with placebo(P>0 .05) .Conclusion The existing evidence indicates that MF DPI has higher effect and safety in treating mild and mod‐erate asthma .

Objective To find out about the demands of health education in the border defense army .Methods A self-made questionaire was used to investigate both the demand of health education in the border defense army and the knowledge-attitude-practice of health .Comprehensive evaluation was conducted on the spectrum of disease in hospitals of border defense army in the previous year .Results Mental health (63.605%), lifestyle (53.829%) and knowledge on occupational protection (41.375%) were the most needed knowledge in the border defense army .Videos and lectures were the means of health education , accounting for respectively 69 .368%and 42 .936%.The total rate of awareness of knowl-edge about health education reached 64.156%.The total rates of holding health attitude and health behavior were 80.765%and 49.113%, respectively.Recently, intervertebral disc disorders,arthritis and other injuries (dislocation, sprain and strain ) were atop the disease spectrum at border defense hospitals .Conclusion Knowledge of mental health , lifestyle and occupational protection along with videos and lectures are the most urgent demand of the border defense army . What needs to be done right away is to improve the awareness of military occupation protection and develop healthy behaviors .

[Abstract ] Objective High-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) is abundantly released in the epileptogenic brain tissue , but few reports are seen about the effect of HMGB 1 on the expression of P-glycoprotein ( P-gp) in the vascular endothelial cells of the epi-leptogenic tissue .This study is to explore whether HMGB 1 can regulate P-gp expression in the brain microvascular endothelial cells of the mouse in vitro . Methods Immortalized brain microvascular endothelial bEnd .3 cells of the mouse were cultured in vitro and al-located to different concentration groups ( treated with culture medium containing 10 , 100 , 500 , and 1000 ng/mL HMGB1 for 8 hours), treatment duration groups (treated with culture medium containing 100 ng/mL HMGB1 for 4, 8, 16, 24, and 32 hours), and a control group ( treated with culture medium without HMGB 1 ) .The mRNA expression of P-gp-encoding gene-multidrug resistance gene 1a (mdr1a) was detected by real-time qPCR, and its protein expression determined by Western blot and immunocytochemistry . Results The results of qPCR manifested that the expressions of mdr 1a mRNA were 1.646 ±0.176, 1.777 ±0.135, 1.617 ±0.043, and 1.398 ±0.182 in the 10, 100, 500, and 1000 ng/mL HMGB1 groups, respectively, significantly higher than 1.030 ±0.284 in the control group (P<0.05), and so were those in the 4, 8, 16, 24 h, and 32 h groups (2.655 ±0.112, 2.168 ±0.212, 1.823 ± 0.232, 1.418 ±0.376, and 1.445 ±0.123) than in the control (1.010 ±0.164) (P <0.05).Western blot showed a significant increase in the P-gp protein expression in all the concentration groups (P<0.05) as well as in the 8 h and 16 h treatment duration groups as compared with the control group (P<0.05).Immunocytochemis-try also revealed a higher P-gp expression in the HMGB1-treated than in the control cells (P<0.01). Conclusion HMGB1 can upregu-late the expressions of mdr1a mRNA and P-gp protein in the brain microvascular endothelial cells of the mouse , which may associated with drug resistance of central nervous system diseases , especially that of epilepsy .

Objective To evaluate if high energy spectral CT images of contrast-enhanced phase could replace the plain scan for radiation dose reduction in children with solid tumor in abdomen.Methods Thirty children with solid tumor in the abdomen underwent CT scan.Plain CT scan was performed as usual,and the contrast-enhanced scan was performed with spectral CT imaging mode.Eleven sets of monochromatic images were reconstructed from the enhanced spectral CT with energies from 40 to 140 keV with 10 keVinterval.CT values for liver,spleen,kidney,pancreas,muscle,vessel and tumors were measured on both the plain and contrast-enhanced spectral images and were statistically compared.Two board-certified radiologists reviewed both plain and contrast-enhanced spectral images for image quality,calcification and tumor characterization.Radiation dose was recorded(CTDIvol,DLP).Pair t test was used to analyze the difference.Results At 140 keV,CT values of the contrast-enhanced spectral images had good correlations with those of plain scan for various organs.The paired CT values between the 140 keV and plain phaseimages were (62.8± 1.1 vs.59.8±4.0),(69.4±2.6vs.63.1 ±5.6),(52.7 ±5.1 vs.51.4±4.0),(35.4± 5.9 vs.35.7 ±5.3),(51.4±8.6vs.50.0±5.7),(55.5±6.6vs.54.7±5.7) and (33.2± 10.4vs.35.4± 12.1) HU for vessel,liver,spleen,kidney,pancreas,muscleand tumor,respectively.There was no significant difference between two groups(t=0.335 to 2.127,P＞0.05).140 keV images of the contrast-enhanced spectral scan in pediatric tumor patients provided adequate image quality (4.4±0.8 points and 3.7±0.5 points)for describing solid tumor features and calcification.The radiation dose of plain phase and contrast-enhanced phase were [CTDIvol (1.6±0.8) mGy,DLP(46.4±36.8)mGy·cm and CTDIvol(12.7±0.1)mGy,DLP(378.6±91.4)mGy·cm.Conclusion It isfeasible to replace plain CT with 140 keV contrast-enhanced spectral images to reduce 10％ radiation dose.

By using a micro-sensor through an endoscope,the esophageal variceal pressure in 94 patients with cirrhosis was measured.The results of the measurement were as follow:in 5 cases with Ⅱ-degree,it was 2.68?0.18 kPa,varices in 26 cases with Ⅲ-degree,it was 2.90?0.23 kPa,while in 63 cases of Ⅳ-degree varices,it was 3.51?0.33 kPa.The results suggested that there was a significant correlation between the pressure of esophageal varices with the degree of varices (r=0.313,P=0.01).The method seemed to be a valuable non-invading technic for evaluating the degree of varices.