Objective:To optimize the extraction process of total flavonoids in Gynostemma pentaphyllum by the method of response surface analysis ( RSM) . Methods: Based on the choice of factors and levels according to the results of single factor test, Box-Be-hnken response surface experiment was designed with the extraction rate of total flavonoids as the index to obtaln the best operation con-ditions and two equations of the response surface model. Results: The optimal extraction conditions of total flavonoids in Gynostemma pentaphyllum were as follows:the volume fraction of ethanol was 71%, the ratio of solid to liquid was 1∶14, and the ultrasonic time was 32 min. Under the conditions, the model predictive value of extraction rate of total flavonoids in Gynostemma pentaphyllum was 4. 676%, and the extraction rate in the verification test was 4. 641%. Conclusion:The fit of the regression model is good, and the ex-traction technology is feasible and reliable.

Objective:To investigate the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation therapy on the exercise capacity and dyspnea of persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods:One hundred COPD patients were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group, each of 50. Both groups were given routine medication, while the observation group was additionally provided with health guidance, oxygen therapy, respiratory physiological therapy and exercise for 3 months. Before and after the intervention, both groups′ forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and the first and second forced expiratory volume as a percentage of FEV (FEV1%) were measured. The subjects′ motor functioning was evaluated using the 6-minute walk test. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and immunoturbidimetry quantified their expression of inflammatory factors. And their ability in the activities of daily living (ADL) was evaluated using the Barthel index. The COPD quality of life questionnaire (CRQ) was also used to assess their life quality.Results:After the intervention, the average clinical efficacy in the observation group was 96%, significantly higher than that of the control group (80%). Moreover, the average FEV1, FEV1%, 6-minute walk test time of the former group were all significantly better than before the intervention and better than the control group′s results after the intervention. Their average CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α levels were all significantly lower as well. After the intervention, the observation group′s average total CRQ score and its average scores on the instrument′s emotion, fatigue, wheezing and disease control components were all better than the control group′s averages. The observation group′s average ADL score was also significantly higher than that of the control group.Conclusions:Supplementing conventional medication with pulmonary rehabilitation therapy can effectively improve the lung function, motor functioning and life quality of COPD patients. It can also lower their level of serum inflammatory factors.

Objective To evaluate comparability of two different assay system for detecting CRP.Methods Following the profile of Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI)document EP9-A2,50 blood samples with anti-coagulant ED-TA-2K were collected from emergency patients at Changhai Hospital.The test result of samples by the i-CHROMA Reader was compared and evaluated with those by Beckman Immage 800.Results The linear regression equation for plasma CRP was:Y=1.076 5X-3.031 5,R2=0.986.The linear regression equation for whole blood CRP was:Y=0.882 6X-1.180 8, R2=0.931 1.For whole blood samples with low HCT (<30.45%).Used correction equation:CRP (after corrected)=CRP (before corrected)/(1-HCT).The regression equation (after corrected)was:Y=1.006 8X-3.612 2,R2=0.950 9.Con-clusion CRP concentration detected by i-CHROMA showed good correlation and comparability compared to laboratory ref-erence system by using plasma samples.Results form whole blood samples with low HCT should be corrected to improve comparability.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of orthostatic hypotension in hypertensive patients aged 80 or over and associated risk factors at level A tertiary hospitals.Methods A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted among very old hypertensive patients (≥ 80 years) at 28level A tertiary hospitals by using questionnaire-based surveys.A total of 1298 hypertensive subjects aged between 80 and 101 years were enrolled in this study.Blood pressures was measured in the supine position and the upright position within three minutes of standing,and 316 patients were assigned to the orthostatic hypotension(OH) group and the other 982 patients to the non-orthostatic hypotension(NOH) group.Additional information was acquired through patients' medical records and the questionnaire.Results The prevalence of OH was 24.3％ (316 cases) There were no significan different betueen OH patienl with NOHones in gender and age.OH patients had higher supine systolic and diastolic blood pressure(P=0.003 and 0.000,respectively),lower standing systolic and diastolic blood pressure(P=0.000 and 0.000,respectively),and higher rates of past coronary heart disease,stroke and renal abnormalities (P =0.037,0.001 and 0.014,respectively) than NOH patients.Logistic regression analysis showed that the prevalence of OH in the patients was positively correlated with supine systolic blood pressure(OR=1.196,CI:1.153-1.242,P=0.000) and supine diastolic blood pressure (OR =1.740,CI:1.602-1.885,P =0.000) and was negatively correlated with standing systolic blood pressure(OR =0.824,CI:0.795-0.855,P=0.000) and standing diastolic blood pressure (OR =0.584,CI:0.539-0.634,P =0.000).Conclusions The prevalence of orthostatic hypotension is high in hypertensive patients aged 80 years or over at level A tertiary hospitals.Poor blood pressure control may increase the risk of orthostatic hypotension.

Objective To explore the influence of 8-week aerobic exercise in heart rate variability (HRV)in obese adolescents and to provide the evidence for formulating special exercise prescription.Methods Forty male obese adolescents (BMI≥25 kg·m-2 )were randomly divided into exercise group (n=20)and control group (n=20). The subjects in exercise group conducted a 8-week (five times/week,50-60 min)aerobic exercise while those in control group maintained their routine lifestyle. The body composition, hemodynamic parameters including heart rate(HR)and blood pressure and HRV parameters including total power (TP),normalized low frequency (LFn), normalized high frequency (HFn)and LFn/HFn ratio were measured before and after experiment.Results There were no significant differences of the indicators of the subjects between two groups before experiment (P>0.05). At the end of experiment,compared before experiment,the fat mass(FM),the percentage of body fat(BF%), the rest HR,SBP and DBP were decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01);the TP and HFn were increased(P<0.01);the LFn and LFn/HFn ratio were reduced (P<0.01)in exercise group after experiment;but the indexes of the subjects in control group showed no significant changes (P>0.05).Compared control group,the FM,the BF%, the rest HR,SBP,DBP,LFn and LFn/HFn ratio were decreased while the TP and HFn were increased (P<0.01)in exercise group after experiment.Conclusion Aerobic exercise may effectively reduce the sympathetic activity and increase the vagal tone in the obese adolescents.

Objective:To construct a eukaryotic expression vector of leptin gene,and to transfect it into human placental mesenchy-mal stem cells(HPMSCs)and appraise its expression.Methods:Primers were designed and the leptin gene was obtained by RT-PCR from human adipose tissue.The aimed segments were inserted into the eukaryotic expression vector pIRES2-EGFP,plasmid pIRES2-EGFP-LEP was constructed and identified by restricted enzymatic resection,and then transfected it into HPMSCs by liposome.The ex-pression of leptin in the transfected cells was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting,the multi-differentiation potential of the cells was indentified.Results:The length of specific fragment was 500 bp,the recombinant plasmid pIRES2-EGFP-LEP presented 5.3 kb and 500 bp bands by restriction enzyme digestion.Leptin gene was expressed in transfected HPMSCs and the transfected HPMSCs maintained multi-directional differentiation potential.Conclusion:The eukaryotic expression vector of leptin can be transfected and ex-pressed in HPMSCs.

OBJECTIVETo establish a miniature pig model of mandibular osteoradionecrosis (ORN).

METHODSA single dose of irradiation (IR25 Gy, 28 Gy) was delivered via an electronic linear accelerator to the right mandible of 24 miniature pigs by utilizing three dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT). The first molar of the mandible was extracted 2 months after radiation. Mandibular ORN was diagnosed through gross observation, X-ray film, CT, and histopathologic examination.

RESULTSAt 3-4 months after radiation, all animals suffered from mandibular ORN after dental extraction. The symptoms of ORN were more severe in the 28 Gy group than in the 25 Gy group.

CONCLUSIONA miniature pig model of mandibular ORN can be established through 25 Gy irradiation + dental extraction.

Animals ; Mandible ; Mandibular Diseases ; pathology ; Molar ; Osteoradionecrosis ; pathology ; Particle Accelerators ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; pathology ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; adverse effects ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; Tooth Extraction

Objective:To study the expression of CXCL 8 in the serum and CXCL8 mRNA in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) of the children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) and its clinical significance.Methods: Forty-eight children(severe cases 12,light cases 36) with MPP were recruited from October 2013 to March 2015 in the Maternal and Child Health-Care Hospital of Huainan.The concentration of the CXCL8 in serum and the level of CXCL8 mRNA in the PBMCs were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction ( PCR).Taking GAPDH as the internal reference ,the ratio of lgcDNA/lgGAPDH was regarded as the extreme level of CXCL 8 mRNA.Results: The serum level of CXCL8 and expression of CXCL8 mRNA in PBMCs in the children with MPP were ( 298.917 ±51.860 ) pg/ml and ( 1.848 ±0.525 ) lgcDNA/lgGAPDH.Compared with the normal control ,there were significant differences between the two groups ( P<0.05 ) .Further observation showed that the levels of CXCL8 in serum were no significant difference between in light cases and severe illness (P>0.05).However, the expression of CXCL8 mRNA in peripheral blood of the children with severe illness was significantly higher than those in light cases (P<0.05).Intravenous infusion of Erythromycin was provided in the acute phase for seven to ten days ,so that the children′s condition could be significantly controlled , and the symptoms of pulmonary inflammation were also relieved .Followed by the use of sequential therapy of Azithromycin for about two to three weeks ,the children′s condition were gradually from acute stage to recovery stage .At this time,the CXCL8 and its mRNA levels in peripheral blood of the sick children were all significantly decreased comparing with those in the acute stage(P<0.05).Conclusion: The expression of CXCL8 and its mRNA were increased in the peripheral blood of the sick children with Mycoplasma pneumonia ,and also correlated with the severity of the disease .CXCL8 can participate in the pathogenesis of Mycoplasma pneumonia ,and has a certain cue effect on the severity and prognosis of the disease .Azithromycin can reduce the content of CXCL8 in serum of the sick children via the pathway of inhibiting the proliferation of Mycoplasma pneumoniae ,and down regulate the expression of mRNA ,so that the immune injury mediated by Mycoplasma pneumoniae may be gradually inhibited .

Objective:To explore the clinical value of point-of-care ultrasonography(PoCUS) in the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism(PE).Methods:Consecutive 196 patients suspected of acute PE were enrolled in East Branch, the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2017 to November 2017. All the patients were categorized into no PE group( n=143) and PE group( n=53) based on CTPA results. PoCUS was performed and considered diagnostic for PE if one or more right ventricular dysfunction (right ventricular dilation, right ventricular free wall hypokinesia, increased tricuspid regurgitation velocity or decreased tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion), deep venous thrombosis(DVT) or subpleural infarcts were detected. Results:With CTPA as the gold standard for diagnosis, the sensitivity (94.34%), Youden index (0.531) and the area under the ROC curve(AUC) (0.765) of the combined diagnosis of PE by transthoracic echocardiography(TTE), lower limb vein compression ultrasonography(CUS) and lung ultrasonography (LUS) were the highest. The specificity (94.41%) and accuracy (81.63%) of LUS in the diagnosis of PE were the highest, and the misdiagnosis rate (5.59%) of LUS the lowest. The sensitivity of the combined triple PoCUS (TTE, CUS, and LUS) diagnosis of PE was higher than TTE and CUS combined diagnosis ( P=0.016), and the sensitivity and specificity were higher than TTE and CUS combined diagnosis as a whole ( P<0.005). Conclusions:The combined triple PoCUS (TTE, CUS, and LUS) has the highest accuracy in the diagnosis of PE, while LUS has a high specificity and a low misdiagnosis rate in the diagnosis of PE. Therefore, it is recommended to apply the combined triple PoCUS in clinical practice.

In recent years, peptide self-assembly has received much attention because of its ability to form regular and ordered structures with diverse functions. Self-assembled peptides can form aggregates with defined structures under specific conditions. They show different characteristics and advantages (e.g., good biocompatibility and high stability) compared with monomeric peptides, which form the basis for potential application in the fields of drug delivery, tissue engineering, and antiseptics. In this paper, the molecular mechanisms, types and influencing factors of forming self-assembled peptides were reviewed, followed by introducing the latest advances on fibrous peptide hydrogels and self-assembled antimicrobial peptides. Furthermore, the challenges and perspectives for peptide self-assembly technology were discussed.
Drug Delivery Systems ; Hydrogels ; Peptides ; Tissue Engineering