Human gut microbiota plays a key role in the development of obesity. Intestinal flora can regulate energy absorption and nutrition metabolism, increasing the energy harvesting from diet. Alteration of gut flora produces excessive lipopolysaccharide, which, when absorbed into the blood, can induce inflammatory reactions and promote the high-fat diet-associated obesity and metabolic syndrome. Intestinal flora increase visceral fat deposition by lowering the expression of Fiaf in intestinal mucosa. Different immune status also affects the intestinal flora.The gut microbiota is hypothesized to be an environmental factor that contributes to obesity; by interacting with factors such as host and diet, it adjusts the energy metabolism. Antibiotics or probiotics may alter the composition of intestinal microflora and improve the metabolic syndrome, and thus provides new treatment options.
Animals ; Diet, High-Fat ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; microbiology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; etiology ; Mice ; Obesity ; microbiology ; therapy ; Probiotics ; therapeutic use

Objective To explore the influence of family factors on the social adaptability of post-graduate students in clinical medicine, and to provide scientific basis for training medical personnel with high social adaptability. Methods From September to November 2016, using stratified random sampling method, a questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate the family environment and social adaptability of 210 clinical professional postgraduates from three grades of a medical college in Xinjiang, the question-naire included the basic situation, family factors and the revised diagnostic questionnaire of social adapt-ability of Professor Zheng Richang. T test, ANOVA and multiple linear regression were carried out by using SPSS 17.0 software package. Results 201 valid questionnaires were returned with an effective recovery rate of 95.71％. The average value of the social adaptability of 201 clinical postgraduates was (17.00±11.12), so social adaptation ability of them was general. There were significant differences in the social adaptation ability of clinical professional master's degree between different genders, grades and working experience (P<0.05). The student was in difference family sources, length of life and father/mother master's degree had statistical significance difference in social adaptation ability (P<0.05). The score of graduate students from rural areas [(19.59±11.77)] was higher than that of urban students [(15.34±10.78)] and and city students (15.14±10.92). The postgraduates who left their homes for more than 10 years scored higher than those whose departure time was less than 10 years. Multi factor analysis found that gender, grade, mother's educa-tion, family sources, the number of home years and whether the work had a major impact on the social adaptability of clinical professionals. Conclusion The family factors of postgraduates in clinical medicine have an influence on their social adjustment ability. From the perspective of family environment, we should carry out the characteristics of intervention education to the students with poor social adaptation ability, in order to constantly improve the level of social adaptability of medical students.

AIM: Ma Huang Tang (Ephedra decoction, MHT) is a famous classical formula from Shang Han Lun by Zhang Zhongjing in the Han Dynasty. The anti-asthmatic effects of MHT and the possible mechanisms were tested. METHOD: An asthma model was established by ovalbumin (OVA)-induction in mice. A total of forty-eight mice were randomly assigned to six experimental groups: control, model, dexamethasone (2 mg·kg(-1)) and MHT (5, 10, and 20 mg·kg(-1)). Airway resistance (Raw) was measured by the forced oscillation technique, histological studies were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, Th1/Th2 and Th17 cytokines were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Th17 cells were evaluated by flow cytometry (FCM). RESULTS: This study demonstrated that MHT inhibited OVA-induced increases in Raw and eosinophil count; interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-17 levels were recovered in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, increased IFN-γ level in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Histological studies demonstrated that MHT substantially inhibited OVA-induced eosinophilia in lung tissue. Flow cytometry studies demonstrated that MHT substantially inhibited Th17 cells. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that MHT may effectively ameliorate the progression of asthma, and could be further investigated for potential use as a therapy for patients with allergic asthma.
Airway Resistance ; drug effects ; Animals ; Anti-Asthmatic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Asthma ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Cytokines ; immunology ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Ovalbumin ; adverse effects ; Th1 Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Th17 Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; drug effects ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo retrospectively compare the clinical outcomes of anterior and posterior surgical treatment in single thoracolumbar-lumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

METHODSBetween January 2004 and August 2008, 22 female patients, averaged 14.5 years old (12 to 18 years), of thoracolumbar-lumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were corrected by anterior correction and fusion. At the same time, 20 female patients, average 14.8 years old (11 to 19 years), were corrected by posterior segmental pedicle screw correction and fusion. Operation time, SRS-24 score, intraoperative blood loss, and coronal and sagittal plane correction were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up for 12 to 63 months, the mean follow-up time was 28.3 months. Operation time was (334 + or - 36) min in anterior group and (292 + or - 17) min in posterior group; intraoperative blood loose was (940 + or - 207) ml in anterior group and (596 + or - 227) ml in posterior group; fusion levels were (5.2 + or - 0.8) in anterior group and (6.7 + or - 1.2) in posterior group. There were statistically significant difference in operation time, intraoperative blood loss and fusion levels (P < 0.05). Coronal correction was (93 + or - 5)% in anterior group and (88 + or - 5)% in posterior group. SRS-24 scores averaged 98 in anterior group and averaged 94 in posterior group. There was no statistical difference in coronal correction or SRS-24 scores (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPosterior surgery has the same correction results compared with anterior surgery in treating thoracolumbar-lumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Posterior surgery takes less operation time, brings less trauma but has longer fusion levels.

Adolescent ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of oblique-sagittal black-blood contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (OB-CEMRI) in atherosclerotic carotid artery (CA) assessment before carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

METHODSTwenty-five patients with symptomatic atherosclerotic stenosis in the carotid artery (involving 26 arteries) were scheduled for CEA. OB-CEMRI and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were conducted within 1 week prior to CEA, and two radiologists independently assessed the location of maximal lumen stenosis, plaque rupture, degree of maximal lumen stenosis and plaque involvement on DSA and OB-CEMRI images. The differences of DSA and the OB-CEMRI in analyzing the plaque conditions were assessed in comparison with matched histological sections of the excised specimens.

RESULTSCompared with the corresponding histological specimens, both DSA (κ=0.807) and OB-CEMRI (κ=0.812) showed a good consistency in defining the location of the maximal lumen stenosis. OB-CEMRI showed a better performance in detecting plaque rupture with higher sensitivity (90.0%) and specificity (83.3%) than DSA (40.0% and 66.7%, respectively). No significant difference was found between DSA and the OB-CEMRI in evaluating the degree of maximal lumen stenosis [(77.33∓3.79)% vs (76.02∓3.95)%, P=0.648]. Compared with the histological examination, OB-CEMRI appeared to underestimate the stenosis. The plaque extent on OB-CEMRI was larger than that on DSA (18.96∓4.96 mm vs 14.80∓3.78 mm, P=0.004), and similar to that by histological examination (18.13∓4.57 mm, P=0.506).

CONCLUSIONSOB-CEMRI allows noninvasive and objective detection of the location of the maximal lumen stenosis, plaque rupture, and plaque extent, though with a lower accuracy than DSA in the assessment of the maximal lumen stenosis. OB-CEMRI combined with DSA offers a more reliable means for preoperative evaluation of the carotid artery plaques for CEA.

Aged ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; pathology ; Carotid Stenosis ; Endarterectomy, Carotid ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effect of Liqi Kuanxiong Huoxue method LKH, traditional Chinese medicine, TCM therapeutic method for regulating qi, relieving chest stuffiness and promoting blood circulation) in treating patients with cardiac syndrome X (CSX).

METHODSThe prospective, non-randomized controlled study was conducted on 51 selected patients with CSX, who were non-randomly assigned to 2 groups, the treated group treated with LKH in addition to the conventional treatment (32 patients), and the control group treated with conventional treatment (19 patients) like nitrate, diltiazem hydrochloride, etc. The treatment course was 14 days. The changes of such symptoms as angina pectoris, TCM syndrome and indexes of treadmill exercise test before and after treatment were observed.

RESULTSAfter treatment, such symptoms as chest pain and stuffy feeling and palpitation in the treated group were improved more than those in the control group (P<0.05); the total effective rate on angina pectoris and TCM syndrome in the treated group was better than that in the control group (P<0.05). The treadmill exercise test showed that the maximal metabolic equivalent (Max MET), the time of angina onset and ST segment depression by 0.1 mV were obviously improved after treatment in both groups, but the improvement in the treated group was better than that in the control group respectively (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe LKH method could reduce the frequency of angina attacks and improve the clinical condition of patients with CSX.

Blood Circulation ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Exercise Test ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microvascular Angina ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Middle Aged ; Qi ; Thorax ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To analyze the genetic characteristics of EV71 strains isolated from HFMD cases in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in 2009. Methods In 2009, totally 385 specimens from 344 HFMD cases were collected from Ningxia. Enterovirus isolation was performed in RD cell line from all the specimens. EV71 isolates were identified by specific RT-PCR from the positive cultures, and sequences of complete EV71 VP1 encoding region were determined for farther analyses. Results Totally from 126 EV strains isolated in this study, 58 EV71 strains (46%) were identified. And complete VP1 sequences of 46 EV71 strains were determined, and genetic analyses were performed. It was showed that the nucleotide identity of 46 Ningxia strains with the representatives of A and B genotypes were 81.7%-82.8% and 83. 1%-85.2%, and the amino acid identity were 93.9%-95.9% and 96. 2% -97.9% respectively. The nucleotide identity of NingXia EV71 isolates with representatives of subgenotype C1 ,C2, C3, C4a, C4b, and C5 were 88.3%-90.6% (97.9%-99.6%), 88.3%-90. 1% (97.9%-99.3%), 87.8%-89.0%(97.6% -98.9% ), 94. 2% -98. 9% ( 97. 9% -100% ), 91.8% -94. 1% ( 98.6% -99. 6% ), and 86. 7% -89. 1% (97.9%-98.9% ). Phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that 46 stains were clustered with reference stains of subgenotype C4 and the Ningxia EV71 isolates were belonged to subgenotype C4a. Conclusion EV71 of subgenotype C4a had spread widely in Ningxia in 2009, which was absolutely predominant type in Ningxia in 2009 and also as the predominant type in China mainland since 2005.

OBJECTIVETo explore the method of digestive tract reconstruction and postoperative management in the upper abdominal multivisceral transplantation (MVT).

METHODSThe data of a pancreatic cancer patient with multiple liver metastases, undergone the first upper abdominal MVT in Asia on May 2004, was investigated retrospectively.

RESULTSDuring the operation, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, duodenum, part of jejunum, total stomach, greater and lesser omentum, and spleen were all resected from the recipient. Roux-en-Y procedure was adopted for the reconstruction of digestive tract, including closing the proximal end of donor duodenum, anastomosing recipient jejunum with horizontal part of donor duodenum, transecting the jejunum 35 cm from the anastomosis, end-to-side anastomosing the distal cut end of jejunum with the end of esophagus, and end-to-side anastomosing proximal cut jejunum with jejunum 50 cm away from esophageal anastomosis. Drainage tube was left inside duodenum and jejunum stoma was made for nutrient canal.The endocrine of pancreas was suppressed by the use of somatostatin postoperatively. Removing of nasogastric tube and duodenum draining tube were delayed. Bowel function recovered 4 days postoperatively and gradually resumed ordinary diet. One month after operation, the patient had no other complications except diarrhea.

CONCLUSIONThe success of upper abdominal MVT supplies precious experience in digestive tract construction and postoperative management.

Adult ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Duodenum ; surgery ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; surgery ; Humans ; Jejunum ; surgery ; Liver ; surgery ; Organ Transplantation ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Stomach ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of monoamine oxidase inhibitor phenelzine on in vitro growth and proliferation of mantle cell lymphoma Jeko-1 cells and its possible mechanism.

METHODSMTT assay was used to observe the cell proliferation and to draw a growth curve. The cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. The expressions of apoptosis-related protein and Wnt signal pathway as well as the level of acetylation of histone were analyzed by Western blot.

RESULTSPhenelzine inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis of Jeko-1 cells in a dose-dependent way by increasing the expression of apoptosis related protein BAX, Caspase-3 and p21, while decreasing anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2. In addition, phenelzine could upregulate histone H3K4mel, H3K4me2 and histone acetylated H3, without affecting hitone H3K4me3. Moreover, phosphorylation of GSF-3β, β-catenin, c-myc and cyclinD1 decreased after exposure to phenelzine for 24 hours.

CONCLUSIONPhenelzine can inhibit Jeko-1 cell proliferation and induce apoptosis by regulating methylation and acetylation of histone and suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway, suggesting its therapeutic benefit for mantle cell lymophma.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFAs) on gut microbiota and endotoxin levels in portal vein of rats fed with a high-fat diet (HFD).

METHODSThirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups and fed with normal control diet (CD), HFD, CD supplemented with n-3PUFAs, and HFD supplemented with n-3PUFAs, respectively. Fresh fecal samples were collected to analyze the gut microbiota 10 weeks after feeding. DNA was exacted from the fresh fecal samples. Quantitative PCR was used to detect the composition of the gut microbiota. The endotoxin levels were detected through modified azo chromogenic substrate limulus amebocyte lysate assay.

RESULTSThe differences in body weight before breeding in each group were not statistically significant among these four groups (P=0.613). The increase in the body weight was significantly larger in the HFD group than in the CD group (P=0.0002), CD+n-3PUFAs group (P=0.0001), and HFD+n-3PUFAs group (P=0.022). There were significantly more firmicutes (P=0.002) and enterobacteriales (P=0.022) and significantly less bacteroidetes (P=0.026) and bifidobactera (P=0.034) in the gut of rats from HFD group than those from the CD group. There were significantly more bacteroidetes in the fecal samples of the rats from the CD+n-3PUFAs group compared to those from the CD group (P=0.043). There were significantly more firmicutes (P=0.044)and enterobacteriales (P=0.012) and less bacteroidetes (P=0.042) in the fecal samples of the rats from HFD group compared to those from the HFD+n-3PUFAs group. The endotoxin in plasma form portal vein of rats in HFD group were significantly higher than in CD group (P=0.007) and HFD+n-3PUFAs group (P=0.042) but showed no significant difference between CD+n-3PUFAs and CD group (P=0.210).

CONCLUSIONSHFD can increase body weight and change gut microbiota. Supplementation of n-3PUFAs can partially counteract such gut dysbiosis, lower endotoxin level in portal vein blood, and improve the body weight.

Animals ; Body Weight ; Diet, High-Fat ; adverse effects ; Endotoxins ; blood ; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 ; pharmacology ; Intestines ; microbiology ; Male ; Microbiota ; drug effects ; Portal Vein ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley