OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Zuogui Pill (, ZGP) and Yougui Pill (, YGP) on the expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling of axonal regeneration in the Lewis rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), in order to explore the possible mechanism of ZGP and YGP on promoting axonal regeneration.

METHODSThe rats were randomly divided into normal control (NC), model (MO), prednisone acetate (PA), ZGP and YGP groups. The EAE model of rat was established by injecting antigen containing myelin basic protein (MBP)68-86. The brain and spinal cord were harvested on the 14th and 28th day post-immunization (PI), the protein and mRNA expression of BDNF and PKA in the brain and spinal cord of rats were detected by Western blot analysis and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the cAMP levels were detected by using enzyme-immunoassay method.

RESULTS(1) On the 28th day PI, the mRNA expression of BDNF in brain white matter and spinal cord of rats in ZGP and YGP groups were up-regulated, especially in YGP group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). (2) On the 14th day PI, the cAMP levels in brain white matters significantly increased in PA and YGP groups compared with MO group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the cAMP level in YGP group was higher than that in ZGP group (P<0.05). The cAMP level in spinal cord also significantly increased in YGP group compared with MO, PA and ZGP groups, respectively (P<0.01). (3) On the 14th day PI, the PKA expression in spinal cord of rats in ZGP group was significantly decreased compared with MO and YGP groups, respectively (P<0.05). (4) On the 28th day PI, there was a positive correlation between cAMP and PKA expression in the brain white matter of YGP rats.

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggest that ZGP and YGP may promote axonal regeneration by modulating cAMP/PKA signal transduction pathway, but the targets of molecular mechanism of ZGP may be different from those of YGP.

Animals ; Axons ; drug effects ; pathology ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cyclic AMP ; metabolism ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Nerve Regeneration ; drug effects ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; genetics ; Spinal Cord ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tablets

BACKGROUNDIt has been long suggested that abnormal clinical factors in the body, such as dyslipidemia and diabetes, can affect the presence of atherosclerosis. However, few studies on the effect of factors within the normal range, such as the loss of renal function with age, on the prevalence of atherosclerosis are few know in healthy individuals. The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors affecting the presence of asymptomatic carotid plaques in a middle-aged and elderly healthy population.

METHODSIn this regard, we prospectively evaluated 245 healthy individuals (98 males and 147 females) at baseline and after 5 years. Changes in the presence of carotid plaque between 2003 and 2008 were categorized into four groups, i.e. subjects without plaque at entry (n = 165): Group 1 (without plaque on two occasions, n = 129) and Group 2 (with nascent plaque at follow-up, n = 36); subjects with plaque at entry (n = 80); Group 3 (with plaque regression at follow-up, n = 29) and Group 4 (with plaque on two occasions, n = 51).

RESULTSUnivariate analysis showed that the positive rate of carotid plaques in males was higher than that in females at the baseline, and that a significantly inverse correlation existed between the prevalence rate of plaque and aging. Logistic regression analysis of cross-sectional research showed that independent risk factors for the prevalence of atherosclerosis were male gender, lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) at the baseline, and older age and lower eGFR were involved in the presence of carotid plaques at follow-up point. However, logistic regression analysis of the longitudinal data showed that older age, decreased eGFR and increased systolic blood pressure (SBP) independently predicted the presence of carotid plaques after 5 years in subjects without plaque at entry. In addition, in subjects with plaque at entry, age, changes in eGFR and the baseline levels of serum albumin (ALB) and serum total bilirubin (BIL) dependently influenced the outcome of carotid plaque.

CONCLUSIONPhysiological decline of renal function, together with advancing age, was an independent risk factor which consistently affected the presence of carotid atherosclerosis in two categories of healthy individuals.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging ; physiology ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; physiology ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVEThe health surveillance proposal for chromate exposed workers was provided and analyzed on the evidence-based study and then to be improved.

METHODFirstly, the related literatures were searched about liver damage, micronuclei, urinary chromium and hexavalent chromium exposure in Evidence Based Medicine Reviews such as Cochran library, OVID Medline, Web of knowledge in December 2011; and then, these literatures were reviewed in according to inclusion and exclusion criteria; 22 articles totally were retrieved, evaluated and classified in according to the grading standard by Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine.Finally, field epidemiological investigation was further adopted to confirm the efficiency and feasibility of this proposal, combined with cost-effectiveness analysis:the ratio of total cost divided survival years was used to express the cost-effectiveness.

RESULTOnly the glutamic pyruvic transaminase test could not reflect liver damage caused by chromate exposure well; Urinary chromium correlated well with the index reflecting body damage caused by chromate exposure; Binucleated cells micronucleus index in peripheral blood lymphocyte could reflect the genetic damage caused by chromate exposure. As for health economic evaluation of chromate lung cancer, the value of cost/effectiveness was ¥42 321.61 per year that was far below the value of common people (¥252 868.97 per year) .

CONCLUSIONIt was suggested that serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase test should be replaced by liver function test, urinary chromium should be classified as a compulsory index and binucleated cells micronucleus index in peripheral blood lymphocyte should be supplied as a recommended index.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Chromates ; urine ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Humans ; Micronucleus Tests ; Occupational Exposure ; Population Surveillance

In this study, the thermoresponsive micelles were synthesized with random copolymerization method and the photosensitizer indocyanine green (ICG) was loaded on micelles through the physical adsorption. The light energy was converted into heat energy to increase the temperature after irradiation with near-infrared light. When the phase transition temperature was reached, the micelle was disassembled and the targeted therapy was achieved. The nanoparticles were characterized with a transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer and other characterization were used to investigate. The critical micelle concentration (CMC), upper critical solution temperature, the photothermal properties of the carrier and the release of drug triggered by light were investigated after the doxorubicin (DOX) loaded. The carrier was evaluated for toxicity, cellular uptake, the effect of photothermal, the combination of photothermal and chemotherapy; the p(AAm-co-AN)-g-PEG (PAAP) was spherical in shape with a particle size of about 45 nm and a phase transition temperature was about 43℃. The critical micelle concentration was 24 μg·mL^-1. The particle size increased to 88 nm after loaded with ICG and DOX which the photothermal effect was obvious. The cumulative release of the drug under the irradiation of near-infrared light (808 nm, 2 W·cm^-2, 2 min·h^-1) was increased to 59.4% (pH 5.0) after 5 h. The results of the cell experiment indicated that ICG-PAAP was almost non-toxic and uptaken by the lysosomal pathway. The cell killing effect was stronger with combination of chemotherapy (DOX as 20 μg·mL^-1) with more than 70% of the cells killed. The results showed that the prepared micelle with low toxicity was thermoresponsive and could be used in combined therapy of tumor under the irradiation of near-infrared light.

Humans ; Bayes Theorem ; Age Factors ; Age Distribution ; Mouth Neoplasms/epidemiology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Mortality

OBJECTIVETo probe into clinical value of comprehensive program of acupuncture, moxibustion and massage as main for treatment of cervical spondylopathy of the nerve root type.

METHODSFive centers, single blind, randomized controlled method were used, 660 cases were divided into a treatment group of 317 cases and a control group of 311 cases. They were treated respectively with comprehensive program of acupuncture, moxibustion and massage as main, and comprehensive program of physical therapy as main. Establish syndrome detection scale and multiply dimensional effect assessment indexes, and evaluate the therapeutic effects and safety.

RESULTSThe cured rate, the cured-markedly effective rate were 42.9%, 64.4% in the treatment group, respectively, better than 16.7%, 36.3% in the control group (P<0.01); after treatment of 2 weeks, clinical symptoms improved in the both groups, but the treatment group was better than the control group in the improvement degrees of neck-shoulder-limb pain, neck rigidity, abnormality of cervical anteflexion, etc. (P<0.01 or P<0.05); the treatment group was shorter than the control group in the time of producing the effect and therapeutic course (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONComprehensive program of acupuncture, moxibustion and massage as main is safe and effective for treatment of cervical spondylopathy, with a better therapeutic effect compared with the comprehensive program of physical therapy.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Massage ; Moxibustion ; Single-Blind Method ; Spinal Diseases

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; Retrospective Studies

Objective: Compare and analyze the results of the domestic Lanyi AH600 glycated hemoglobin analyzer and other different detection systems to understand the comparability of the detection results of different detectors, and establish the best cut point of Lanyi AH600 determination of haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in the diagnosis of diabetes. Methods: Multi center cohort study was adopted. The clinical laboratory departments of 18 medical institutions independently collected test samples from their respective hospitals from March to April 2022, and independently completed comparative analysis of the evaluated instrument (Lanyi AH600) and the reference instrument HbA1c. The reference instruments include four different brands of glycosylated hemoglobin meters, including Arkray, Bio-Rad, DOSOH, and Huizhong. Scatter plot was used to calculate the correlation between the results of different detection systems, and the regression equation was calculated. The consistency analysis between the results of different detection systems was evaluated by Bland Altman method. Consistency judgment principles: (1) When the 95% limits of agreement (95% LoA) of the measurement difference was within 0.4% HbA1c and the measurement score was≥80 points, the comparison consistency was good; (2) When the measurement difference of 95% LoA exceeded 0.4% HbA1c, and the measurement score was≥80 points, the comparison consistency was relatively good; (3) The measurement score was less than 80 points, the comparison consistency was poor. The difference between the results of different detection systems was tested by paired sample T test or Wilcoxon paired sign rank sum test; The best cut-off point of diabetes was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Results: The correlation coefficient R² of results between Lanyi AH600 and the reference instrument in 16 hospitals is≥0.99; The Bland Altman consistency analysis showed that the difference of 95% LoA in Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital in Jiangsu Province (reference instrument: Arkray HA8180) was -0.486%-0.325%, and the measurement score was 94.6 points (473/500); The difference of 95% LoA in the Tibetan Traditional Medical Hospital of TAR (reference instrument: Bio-Rad Variant II) was -0.727%-0.612%, and the measurement score was 89.8 points; The difference of 95% LoA in the People's Hospital of Chongqing Liang Jiang New Area (reference instrument: Huizhong MQ-2000PT) was -0.231%-0.461%, and the measurement score was 96.6 points; The difference of 95% LoA in the Taihe Hospital of traditional Chinese Medicine in Anhui Province (reference instrument: Huizhong MQ-2000PT) was -0.469%-0.479%, and the measurement score was 91.9 points. The other 14 hospitals, Lanyi AH600, were compared with 4 reference instrument brands, the difference of 95% LoA was less than 0.4% HbA1c, and the scores were all greater than 95 points. The results of paired sample T test or Wilcoxon paired sign rank sum test showed that there was no statistically significant difference between Lanyi AH600 and the reference instrument Arkray HA8180 (Z=1.665,P=0.096), with no statistical difference. The mean difference between the measured values of the two instruments was 0.004%. The comparison data of Lanyi AH600 and the reference instrument of all other institutions had significant differences (all P<0.001), however, it was necessary to consider whether it was within the clinical acceptable range in combination with the results of the Bland-Altman consistency analysis. The ROC curve of HbA1c detected by Lanyi AH600 in 985 patients with diabetes and 3 423 patients with non-diabetes was analyzed, the area under curve (AUC) was 0.877, the standard error was 0.007, and the 95% confidence interval 95%CI was (0.864, 0.891), which was statistically significant (P<0.001). The maximum value of Youden index was 0.634, and the corresponding HbA1c cut point was 6.235%. The sensitivity and specificity of diabetes diagnosis were 76.2% and 87.2%, respectively. Conclusion: Among the hospitals and instruments currently included in this study, among these four hospitals included Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital in Jiangsu Province (reference instrument: Arkray HA8180), Tibetan Traditional Medical Hospital of TAR (reference instrument: Bio-Rad Variant Ⅱ), the People's Hospital of Chongqing Liang Jiang New Area (reference instrument: Huizhong MQ-2000PT), and the Taihe Hospital of traditional Chinese Medicine in Anhui Province (reference instrument: Huizhong MQ-2000PT), the comparison between Lanyi AH600 and the reference instruments showed relatively good consistency, while the other 14 hospitals involved four different brands of reference instruments: Arkray, Bio-Rad, DOSOH, and Huizhong, Lanyi AH600 had good consistency with its comparison. The best cut point of the domestic Lanyi AH600 for detecting HbA1c in the diagnosis of diabetes is 6.235%.
Pregnancy ; Child ; Humans ; Female ; Glycated Hemoglobin ; Cohort Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus/diagnosis* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; ROC Curve