Objective To investigate the risks of self-rated health in the ≥55-year elderly in Beijing and the occurrence of stroke.Methods The subjects (n=2 101;aged ≥55) from Beijing longitudinal study of aging (BLSA) were collected by Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University from January 1992 to December 2016.One hundred and twenty-one subjects with stroke at baseline and 92 with incomplete information were excluded,and finally,1 888 elderly patients without cerebrovascular disease at baseline were included in the analysis.Based on the actual situation,the self-rated health was to identify an item that matched their current state from good,general to poor.The deadline for the survey was December 31,2012.The competitive risk model was used to assess the health self-rated status and the risk of stroke.Non-stroke deaths,including cancer and car accidents were treated as competitive events.Results Of the 1 888 subjects enrolled,946 (50.1%) self-rated health were good,616 (32.6%) were general,and 326 (17.3%) were poor;438 (23.2%) had stroke,751 (37.8%) had non-stroke death,and 699 (37.0%) were right censored data.Using the competing risk model and adjusting the age,sex,living area,marital status,education level,smoking,alcohol consumption,physical exercise,hypertension,diabetes mellitus,coronary heart disease,and body mass index,the occurrence of stroke in patients with poor self-rated health was 1.44 times (95%CI 1.11-1.87,P<0.01) as good as those who were good.Conclusion In the self-rated health of the elderly ≥55 years old in Beijing,the people with poor self-rated health increased the occurrence of stroke after considering the competitive risks.

Objective:To investigate the potential factors influencing the extent of coronary artery lesion in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with an emphasis on the role of serum SIRT1.Methods:We assessed the clinical data from 81 ACS patients admitted to China-Japan Friendship Hospital. Serum SIRT1 was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the extent of coronary artery lesion was evaluated by SYNTAX score before revascularization. All the patients were divided into two groups: high SYNTAX score (severe coronary artery lesion, n=38) and low SYNTAX score (moderate coronary artery lesion, n=43), by means of the median of SYNTAX score. Potential factors influencing SYNTAX score were analyzed through multiple linear regression analysis. Results:Compared with the low SYNTAX score group, patients in the high SYNTAX score group had higher serum SIRT1 level [379.38 (490.14) ng/L vs. 242.95 (173.85) ng/L, P<0.001] and frequency of coronary artery disease family history (42.11% vs. 20.93%, P=0.039). There was no statistical difference among other factors between the two groups. Serum SIRT1 was positively correlated with SYNTAX score in ACS patients ( R=0.452, P<0.010). Serum SIRT1 (ln adjusted), age and estimated glomerular filtration rate were independently correlated with SYNTAX score (ln adjusted) in multiple linear regression analysis (Adjusted R2=0.330, P<0.001). Conclusions:For the first time, we discussed the correlation of serum SIRT1 with extent of coronary artery lesion in ACS patients. Cardiologists should pay more attention to high-risk patients in order to improve the prognosis of ACS patients through timely revascularization strategies.

Central composite design (CCD) is one of the most commonly used design methods in response surface optimization and has been widely applied in the field of pharmaceutics to optimize preparations. On the 20th anniversary of the introduction of CCD into China, the paper reviews its application in domestic pharmaceutical researches. Based on the brief introduction of basic principle and operation steps of CCD, the mistakes emerging in the application of CCD are summarized, including conceptual confusion with Box-Behnken design and face-centered CCD as well as wrong designs. Besides, the issues concerning the selection of factors and responses are discussed. The article is helpful for researchers to comprehensively understand the CCD and facilitates the rational application of this method.

Through study on the correlation between Atractylodis macrocephala lactones ingredient content and topographic factors, we researched regionalization from topography of five main producing provinces of the country, in order to provide a scientific basis for A. macrocephala reasonable cultivation. By sampling from 40 origins of five main producing provinces of the country, the variation of A. macrocephala lactones ingredient content in different conditions of topographic factors and the effect of altitude, slope and aspect was analyzed by SPSS. Then according to the relationship between A. macrocephala lactones ingredient content and topographic factors, the ecological suitability regionalization was conducted by using ArcGIS based on topographic factors. It is suitable for growth of A. macrocephala in the hilly and mountainous areas of southern whose A. macrocephala lactones ingredient content is in high levels. It is unsuitable for growth of A. macrocephala in Northern plain areas, but we can cultivate A. macrocephala in the hilly and mountainous areas of Northern. The most suitable topographic condition for cultivation of A. macrocephala : altitude 200 meters above, slope 3.00-4.99 degrees.
Altitude ; Atractylodes ; chemistry ; growth & development ; China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Ecosystem

Adult ; Animals ; Fasciolidae ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; surgery ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Liver Transplantation ; Living Donors ; Male ; Trematode Infections ; drug therapy

Objective To summarize the incidence of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) after heart transplantation and the effect on the long-term survival of recipients. Methods Clinical data of 1 006 heart transplant recipients were retrospectively analyzed. Of 48 CAV patients, 4 cases were not included in this analysis due to lack of imaging evidence. A total of 1 002 recipients were divided into the CAV group (n=44) and non-CAV group (n=958) according to the incidence of CAV. The incidence of CAV was summarized. Clinical data of all patients were statistically compared between two groups. Imaging diagnosis, coronary artery disease, drug treatment and complications, postoperative survival and causes of death of CAV patients were analyzed. Results Among 1 006 heart transplant recipients, 48 cases (4.77%) developed CAV. Compared with the non-CAV group, the proportion of preoperative smoking history, preoperative hypertension history, coronary artery disease and perioperative infection was significantly higher in the CAV group (all P < 0.05). Among 44 patients diagnosed with CAV by imaging examination, 24 cases were diagnosed with CAV by coronary CT angiography (CTA), 4 cases by coronary angiography (CAG), and 16 cases by coronary CTA combined with CAG. Among 44 patients, the proportion of grade Ⅰ CAV was 45% (20/44), 30% (13/44) for grade Ⅱ CAV and 25% (11/44) for grade Ⅲ CAV, respectively. All patients received long-term use of statins after operation, and 20 patients were given with antiplatelet drugs. Among 44 CAV patients, 11 patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, 6 cases received repeated heart transplantation, and 8 patients died. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that there was no significant difference in the long-term survival rate between the CAV and non-CAV groups (P > 0.05), whereas the survival rate of patients tended to decline after the diagnosis of CAV (at postoperative 6-7 years). The long-term survival rates of patients with grade Ⅰ, grade Ⅱ and grade Ⅲ CAV showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). Even for patients with grade Ⅰ CAV, the long-term survival rate tended to decline. Conclusions CAV is a common and intractable complication following heart transplantation, and the long-term survival rate of patients after the diagnosis of CAV tended to decline. Deepening understanding of CAV, prompt prevention, diagnosis and treatment should be delivered to improve the long-term survival rate of patients after heart transplantation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the angiographic feature and its diagnostic value in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).

METHODSTwelve patients with pathologically proved GIST underwent angiography using PUCK and DSA one week before operation. The origin, size, morphology and angiographic appearance of the lesion were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSIt was found that two tumors originated from stomach, eight from jejunum, and two from ileum. Seven cases were benign but five malignant. Obviously thickened and enlarged feeding artery was detected in eight tumors, and early-developed vein was found in three. Two types of angiographic changes of GIST were observed: 1) twisted irregular neoplastic vessels with partially coarse and indistinct margin were found in four cases, which were all malignant; 2) ball-like neoplastic vessels with homogeneous stain in tumor were found in eight cases, seven of them were benign but one was malignant.

CONCLUSIONAngiography may be helpful in localization and diagnosis as well as defining the size of GIST, and especially in patients with melena of unknown origin.

Adult ; Aged ; Angiography ; methods ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Jejunal Neoplasms ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Mesenteric Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; Middle Aged ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging

Objective To establish an automatic synthesis method for 11C-carfentanil (CFN) as an novel opiate receptor radioligand and study its biodistribution in rats. Methods 11C-Triflate-CH3 was bubbled into 0.5 mg precursor desmethyl-CFN (which was dissolved in 0.15 ml DMSO) to generate 11C-CFN in a V-tube at room temperature. Sep-Pak C2 column was used for purification of 11C-CFN, which was eluted by 3ml binary system aqueous solution, 10 ml water thrice, and then I ml ethanol. The biodistribution (% ID/g) of 11C-CFN in SD rats was studied. SPSS 13.0 was used for statistical analysis. Non-normal distribution data were analyzed using nonparametric test. Results The synthesis time for 11C-CFN was 20 min (end of bombardment, EOB). The synthesis yield was (35.5 ± 2.2) % on average (n = 12, uncorrected)with the radiochemical purity over 98%. Biodistribution study in rats showed that the tracer had a high brain uptake, rapid blood clearance, and a metabolic pathway via liver and kidney. The highest tracer uptake was in thalamus (4.26 ± 0.89) % ID/g and striatum (4.05 ± 1.08) % ID/g at 5 min after injection, followed by cerebral cortex (2.63±0.89) %ID/g, pons (2.26 ±0.57) % ID/g, hippocampus (2. 17 ±0.55) %ID/g and cerebellum (2. 15 ±0.39) %ID/g. Conclusions The automatic synthesis of 11C-CFN is fast and reliable, and this radioligand can be used for opiate receptor imaging.

Professor ZHENG Kui-shan is a famous specialist of acupuncture and moxibustion sciences, and he has obtained a lot of achievements in about 70 years' clinical treatment, scientific studies and teaching. He has advocated and devoted himself to the studies of traditional needling methods of acupuncture and moxibustion, with outstanding contributions to the development of Chinese and world's acupuncture and moxibustion. He participated in the scientific studies, clinical treatment and teaching of acupuncture and moxibustion at the early stage of founding of the China Academy of TCM. He first advocated and led "the study on channel essence", established Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Gansu College of TCM and Gansu Society of Zheng's Needling Methods. Professor Zheng's opinions and practice which emphasize on the studies of Chinese traditional acupuncture, moxibustion and needling methods indicate the direct of acupuncture and moxibustion studies in both China and world.
Acupuncture ; China ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Moxibustion

OBJECTIVEThis study is aimed at developing a simple and easy way to generate dendritic cells (DCs) from human peripheral blood monocytes (PBMCs) in vitro.

METHODSPBMCs were isolated directly from white blood cell rather than whole blood and purified by patching methods (collecting the attached cell and removing the suspension cell). DCs were then generated by culturing PBMCs for six days with 30 ng/ml recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) and 20 ng/ml recombinant human interleukin-4 (rhIL-4) in vitro. On the sixth day, TNF-alpha (TNFalpha) 30 ng/ml was added into some DC cultures, which were then incubated for two additional days. The morphology was monitored by light microscopy and transmission electronic microscopy, and the phenotypes were determined by flow cytometry. Autologous mixed leukocyte reactions (MLR) were used to characterize DC function after TNFalpha or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulations for 24 h.

RESULTSAfter six days of culture, the monocytes developed significant dendritic morphology and a portion of cells expressed CD1a, CD80 and CD86, features of DCs. TNFalpha treatment induced DCs maturation and up-regulation of CD80, CD86 and CD83. Autologous MLR demonstrated that these DCs possess potent T-cell stimulatory capacity.

CONCLUSIONThis study developed a simple and easy way to generate DCs from PBMCs exposed to rhGM-CSF and rhIL-4. The DCs produced by this method acquired morphologic and antigenic characteristics of DCs.

Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; pharmacology ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Phenotype ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology