Objective: To investigate relationship between cognitive function and quality of life of elderly living in beadhouses Method: 251 persons aged 55 or above living in three beadhouse for at least 1 year were assessed with GQOLI-74 (generic quality of life inventory-74), SAS (self-rating anxiety scale), CESD (center for epidemiologic studies depression scale), MMSE (mini mental state examination) and ADL (activity of daily living) Result: The elderly with low MMSE scores had lower scores in GQOLI-74 than that normal in MMSE assessment The quality of life correlated with depression and cognitive function Those in marriage had better life quality than those widowed Conclusion: Cognitive function is an important factor on quality of life of elderly living in beadhouses

Objective To observe the effect of rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) on gait of stroke hemiplegic patients. Methods From April, 2014 to April, 2015, eleven stroke hemiplegic patients were divided into RAS group (n=6) and control group (n=5) randomly. Both groups accepted routine rehabilitation, and the RAS group accepted RAS walking exercise, while the control group accepted verbal in-structed walking exercise. They were tested with Brunnstrom's Stage and gait analysis before and three weeks after training. Results There was no significant increase in Brunnstrom's Stage (Z<1.414, P>0.05) in both groups after training. The RAS group increased in stride length, velocity and cadence (t>4.829, P<0.01) after training, and improved in temporal symmetry (t=3.323, P<0.05), while there was no significant change in all of the indices in the control group (t<1.765, P>0.05). Conclusion Walking exercise under RAS facilitates to improve gait in stroke hemiplegic patients.

Objective To analyze the association between interleukin-23 receptor (IL23R) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and multiple sclerosis (MS) in a Southern Han Chinese population.Methods Three SNPs (rs2201841,rs10889677,rs7517847) within the IL23R gene were detected in 178 MS patients and 221 controls using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism method (PCR-RFLP).Haplotypes of the IL23R gene were constructed with SHEsis software.Results The frequencies of the genotype or allele in the IL23R gene SNPs(rs2201841:TT,TC,CC in MS patients:5.7％ (10/175),45.7％ (80/175),48.6％ (85/175),in controls:7.4％ (16/217),41.0％ (89/217),51.6％ (112/217),x2 =1.08,P =0.58 ; rs10889677:AA,AC,CC in MS patients:52.0％ (89/171),42.7％ (73/171),5.3％ (9/171),in controls:57.7％ (123/213),36.2％ (77/213),6.1％ (13/213),x2 =1.71,P =0.43 ; rs7517847:GG,GT,TT in MS patients:16.9％ (29/172),51.7％(89/172),31.4％ (54/172),in controls:14.4％ (31/215),49.3％ (106/215),36.3％(78/215),x2=1.15,P =0.56)showed no significant difference between MS patients and controls.The genotype did not influence the age of onset,the duration or disease severity in MS patients.The SNPs rs2201841 and rs10889677 had strong linkage disequlibrium (D' =0.614,r2 =0.327).The haplotype frequencies showed no significant difference between the MS patients and controls.Conclusion There is no evidence in our study to support the association between IL23R SNPs and MS in a Southern Han Chinese population.

Objective To investigate the clinical application of retrograde autologous priming (RAP)in congenital heart disease surgery by cardiopulmonary bypass.Methods Twenty congenital heart disease patients undergoing heart operation by cardiopulmonary bypass were randomly divided into two groups,group control (n=10)and group RAP (n=10).Group control was received the regular priming method,whereas group RAP with RAP technique.The hematologic parameters were measured before CPB,15 minutes following CPB,1 h and 24 h after CPB.The priming volume, transfusion requirements,ventilator time and ICU stay time were recorded.Results All patients were healed completely without death and transfusing complications.The priming volume in group RAP was significantly lower than that in group control (P<0.01).The levels of hemoglobin and hemato-crit in group RAP at 15 min following CPB and 1 h after CPB were significantly higher compared to group control (P<0.05).Lactate in group RAP at 1 h and 24 h after CPB were significantly lower than those in group control (P<0.05).The transfusion requirements in group RAP were significantly decreased than group control (P<0.05).Conclusion In congenital heart disease surgery by cardiop-ulmonary bypass,RAP technique can effectively decrease priming volume,hemodilution and transfu-sion requirements,improve tissue perfusion and pulmonary function.

Objective Many studies showed that Ca~(2+) channel blocker could prevent and treat right ventricular hypertrophy(RVH) induced by chronic hypoxia.To further identify the mechanism,we investigated the effect of Ca~(2+) channel blocker on the levels of myocardial calcineurin A?mRNA(CnA?)in RV and plasma nitric oxide(NO),NO synthase and endothelin-1(ET-1) in rats with chronic hypoxia.Methods 30 rats were divided into three groups by randomized block design: treatment group with Amlodipine Besylate ablets [(30 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1)),administered via gavage],chronic hypoxia group,and control group.The rats in treatment group and chronic hypoxia group were exposed to normobaric chronic hypoxia [(10.0?0.5)% O_2 ] for 21 days.On the 21st day of experiment,all rats were sacrificed and the hearts were collected for measuring the weight.Blood samples were also drawn from the ventricles for measuring plasma NO,iNOS and ET-1 levels.CnA?mRNA levels in RV were measured by RT-PCR.Results ⑴The RV/(LV+S)、RV/BW ratios were significantly higher in chronic hypoxia group than those of control group and treatment group(P

AIM: To study the role of calcineurin in the progression of right ventricle cardiac hypertrophy in the chronic hypoxia rats and examine the effect of Ca 2+ channel blockers on the activation of calcineurin. METHODS: Sixty rats were divided into three groups: treatment group with amlodipine besylate ablets, chronic hypoxia group, normal control group with normal oxygen. The rats in treatment group and chronic hypoxia group were exposed to normobaric chronic hypoxia(10?0 5)% O 2 for 21 days. All hearts were removed immediately after dissection for further investigation. RESULTS: (1)The RV/(LV+S),RV/BW were significantly higher in hypoxia group than that of control group and treatment group( P

Objective To investigate the asseciation of 1188A/C polyrnorphism of Interlenkin-12B gene (IL-12B) with remit-relapse multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in the southern Chinese population.Methods Ninety-four patients with RRMS and 145 age- and-sex-matched normal controls were recnfited in this study.The polymorphism was detected by using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay in these subjects.The frequencies of the alleles in each group were statistically analyzed.Results The frequency of the allele A increased significantly in RRMS patients (64.4%) compared with that in healthy controls (53.8%, χ2=5.228, P=0.022).An increased risk for MS was suggested in carriers of the A allele (OR=1.551, 95% CI=1.064-2.262).Conclusions The A allele in 1188A/C polymorphism of IL-12B gene may be a risk factor for RRMS in southern Chinese population.

Objective:To explore the feasibility of CT angiography (CTA) in investigating vascular dilatation of anterior choroidal artery (AChA) and posterior communicating artery (PComA) in patients with Moyamoya syndrome (MMS).Methods:From July 2017 to July 2018, the clinical and imaging data of MMS patients with brain CTA and DSA performed were analyzed retrospectively. According to DSA results, 71 MMS patients were divided into unilateral MMS group (20 cases, 20 hemispheres) and bilateral MMS group (51 cases, 102 hemispheres). There were 20 cases in unilateral MMS group, 10 males and 10 females, with an average age of (45±9) years; 51 cases in bilateral MMS group, 24 males and 27 females, with an average age of (44±12) years. The hemispheres were divided into dilated group and non-dilated group according to the dilatation of AChA or PComA. Kappa analysis was used to evaluate the consistency of two inspection methods to judge the expansion of AChA. The lumen diameters of PComA, P1 and P2 segments of posterior cerebral artery were measured on CTA images, and the ratio of PComA/P1 and PComA/P2 were calculated. The repeatability of CTA measures was evaluated by intra-group correlation coefficient. Independent sample t-test was used to compare CTA measurement results between PComA dilated group and non-dilated group, and ROC curve was drawn to calculate the best threshold for diagnosis of PComA expansion. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of CTA measures were calculated. Results:The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of CTA diagnosis of AChA expansion inunilateral MMS were all 100.00%. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of CTA diagnosis of AChA expansionin bilateral MMS were 90.00%, 93.90%, 93.14%, 78.26% and 97.47%. Compared with DSA, there was no significant difference in the diagnostic performance of AChA expansion between single and bilateral MMS diagnosed by CTA ( P>0.05). The two methods had strong consistency (Kappa value was 1.00 and 0.79 respectively, P<0.01). A total of 46 patients (69 cerebral hemispheres) were included in the evaluation of PComA. PComA/P1 (1.09±0.41) and PComA/P2 (0.86±0.13) in the dilated group were significantly higher than those in the non-dilated group (0.71±0.21 for PComA/P1 and 0.75±0.23 for PComA/P2). The differences were statistically significant ( t=-4.59, -2.50, P<0.05). The best threshold in diagnosing PComA expansion was 0.87 (PComA/P1) and 0.76 (PComA/P2), and the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 84.62%, 83.33%, 84.06%, 86.84%, 80.65% and 79.49%, 60.00%, 71.01%, 72.09% and 69.23%, respectively. Compared with DSA, the Kappa value of CTA measures in diagnosis of PComA expansion was 0.68 (PComA/P1) and 0.40 (PComA/P2), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusions:CTA has a strong consistency with DSA in evaluating the AChA expansion in MMS. When the PComA/P1 ratio on CTA is greater than 0.87, it can be used as the diagnosis criterion for PComA expansion.

Since December 2019,severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has been found to be the culprit in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19),causing a global pandemic.Despite the existence of many vaccine programs,the number of confirmed cases and fatalities due to COVID-19 is still increasing.Furthermore,a number of variants have been reported.Because of the absence of approved anti-coronavirus drugs,the treatment and management of COVID-19 has become a global challenge.Under these circumstances,drug repurposing is an effective method to identify candidate drugs with a shorter cycle of clinical trials.Here,we summarize the current status of the application of drug repurposing in COVID-19,including drug repurposing based on virtual computer screening,network pharmacology,and bioactivity,which may be a beneficial COVID-19 treatment.

Objective To investigate the role and existing dilemmas of policies related to traditional Chinese medicine talents in China in terms of their growth paths and attitudes towards existing policies.Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate the current situation of the development of traditional Chinese medicine talents and their views on the existing policies.Results 278 valid questionnaires were collected.In general,traditional Chinese medicine talents are quite satisfied with the current talent policy,the interviewees with senior professional titles have a better understanding of the talent policy,and the young members and members of the Chinese society of traditional Chinese medicine have a more positive and urgent attitude towards building a talent policy and evaluation index system with traditional Chinese medicine characteristics.Respondents generally believe that the current financial support for talent projects of traditional Chinese medicine is average,but it can stimulate the growth of young scholars.The title of talents and the achievements of scholars'scientific research complement each other.Conclusion In the process of the development of the field of traditional Chinese medicine,we should speed up the training of innovative talents of traditional Chinese medicine,establish talent evaluation indicators with traditional Chinese medicine characteristics,improve the evaluation and project management system of traditional Chinese medicine talents,and reasonably optimize the incentive mechanism brought by the title of talents.