OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Chinese medicine and pharmacy (CMP) on the mortality of senile HIV/AIDS patients as adjunctive therapy.

METHODSHIV/AIDS patients of a certain rural area of Hanna Province, who were recruited in national CMP HIV treatment trial program (NTCMTP) in 2004, were enrolled as the CMP treatment group. HIV/AIDS patients in the same village without recruiting in NTCMTP were enrolled as the non-CMP treatment group. Data related to subjects were collected from the database of NTCMTP and National HAART Reporting System. Multiple regression analysis under Cox proportional hazard model was applied to examine the risk factors for death of senile HIV/AIDS patients.

RESULTSA total of 436 HIV/AIDS were enrolled in this study, 204 in the CMP treatment group and 232 in the non-CMP treatment group. There were 70 AIDS-relative deaths in the CMP treatment group, with 8-year mortality rate of 37.74%. There were 111 AIDS-relative deaths in the non-CMP treatment group, with 8-year mortality rate of 48.34%. The 8-year mortality rate was higher in the non-CMP treatment group than in the CMP treatment group (chi2 = 5.136, P < 0.05). Results of univariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed the hazard ratio in the non-CMP treatment group was 1.41 times that of the CMP treatment group (P < 0.05). Result of multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed the hazard ratio in the non-CMP treatment group was 1.44 times that of the CMP treatment group (P < 0.05). Besides, gender and marital conditions were significantly associated with death of HIV/AIDS patients.

CONCLUSIONCMP treatment was favorable to lower the mortality rate of senile HIV/AIDS patients, and its objective evaluation awaits for further prospective study.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Alzheimer Disease ; therapy ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; Communicable Diseases ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Humans ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) belong to pattern recognition receptors, which perform significant roles in antiviral responses. RLRs can initiate a cascade of signaling transduction that induces the production of type I interferon and activates the interferon signaling pathway, ultimately resulting in antiviral responses. In the course of evolution, viruses have been constantly counteracting host immune systems to facilitate their own survival and replication, and have developed a set of antagonistic strategies. These mainly comprise elusion, disguise and attack strategies to eliminate the activation of RLRs. In virus-infected cells, RLRs recognize viral RNA and then induce antiviral responses. A better understanding of viral antagonistic strategies against RLRs will provide insights into the development of new antiviral medicines. This mini-review concludes that there are three main antagonistic strategies by which RNA viruses can counteract the activation of the RLRs pathway. It aims to provide references and insights for similar studies on viral antagonism in an array of RNA viruses.
DEAD Box Protein 58 ; DEAD-box RNA Helicases ; genetics ; immunology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; RNA Viruses ; genetics ; immunology ; physiology ; RNA, Double-Stranded ; genetics ; immunology ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; immunology ; Virus Diseases ; genetics ; immunology ; virology

Guanylate-binding protein 1 (GBP1) is an interferon induced protein, that belongs to the guany late-binding protein family. GBP1 is widely involved in anti-infection immune responses, anti-tumor activity and various biological reactions. Recent studies have proved that IFN-alpha, IFN-beta, IFN-gamma, IL1alpha, IL1beta, TNF-alpha and LPS can induce GBP1 expression; hence, the diverse biological functions of GBP1 have been gradually deduced and exploited. Many studies have been performed over recent years to understand the exact mechanisms that underlie the anti-infection and anti-tumor properties of GBP1. This review describes the molecular structure, biological activity, anti-infective properties and other functions of GBP1, in order to provide insights into the divergent roles of GBP1 in the regulation of various biological processes.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; metabolism ; Antiviral Agents ; metabolism ; GTP-Binding Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interferons ; genetics ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDBacterial infections remain a serious complication following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The objective of the study was to determine the effectiveness of a guideline for the appropriate use of antibiotics in CABG during the perioperative period.

METHODSSix hundred and fourteen hospitalized patients who had undergone CABG from January to June 2006 were randomly allocated to an intervention group and a control group. The data on the hospital stay, days of antibiotic used, types of prophylactic antibiotics used, surgical wound infection and pulmonary infection and antibiotic costs for the patients were compared.

RESULTSThe postoperative hospitalization days of the intervention group were significantly fewer than that for the control group (P < 0.05). The time of antibiotic use and post-infection treatment time were also significantly less in the intervention group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The average hospital daily cost and total cost of antibiotics were less in the intervention group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, prophylactic antibiotic use in the intervention group was more reasonable.

CONCLUSIONSThe guideline for the appropriate use of antibiotics in CABG during the perioperative period is effective strategies for reducing antibiotic costs, the time of antibiotic use and post-infection treatment time without compromising the patients' clinical outcome.

Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; economics ; therapeutic use ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; economics ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perioperative Period

Abstract: Objective To evaluate the key quality control and protective performance test of Halcyon medical linear accelerator. Methods WS 674-2020Specification for Testing of Quality Control in Medical Linear Accelerator（ According to the hereinafter WS 674-2020） ， referred to and the manufacturer´s manual the performance of the first Halcyon medical linear accelerator in Results ， ， Hunan Province was tested. The results showed that all ten indicators of the accelerator including dose deviation ， ， （ ， ， ， - repeatability linearity daily stability and symmetry the results were 0.10% 0.03% 0.04% 0.50% and 100.50% 100.80% ）， - - respectively met the requirements of WS 674 2020. The results of manufacturer quality control indicators such as dose rate ， ， stability in beam gantry rotation isocenter and mechanical position accuracy megavolt image parameters and cone beam computer tomography image parameters met the requirements of the manufacturer´s regulations. Due to the special structure and ， - ： function of the accelerator it is difficult to detect the parameter required by WS 674 2020 as below the radiation leakage - ， ， ， ， outside the M zone the uniformity the indicators related to the light field the offset of the radiation beam axis the zero scale Conclusion - position of the rotating motion scale and others. It is difficult to carry out complete testing according to WS 6742020 for Halcyon medical linear accelerator and it is urgent for the state to issue relevant testing standards to standardize and strengthen the quality control testing of various accelerators.

OBJECTIVETo study the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status through heterosexual transmission in Yining city and to provide information on effective intervention measures.

METHODSCohort of HIV sero-discordant couples identified from 1997 to 2000 was formed. Proportional risk model was used to analyze the time of HIV sero-conversion and the related factors. All the recruiters were under informed consent.

RESULTSThrough following on 22 sero-discordant couples, we found that the incidence density (ID) of HIV sero-conversion was 32.49/100 person-year (PY) with 33.74/100 PY for women. In the proportional hazard model, the course of sero-conversion was only 2.43 years and the frequency of sexual contact was statistically significant (>or= 3 times/week vs. < 3 time/week: RR = 1.984, 95% CI: 1.045 - 3.767), indicating this factor was related to the hazard of HIV sero-conversion. However, the viral load of HIV infections has no such effect on HIV sero-conversion of their spouses. In addition, the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) was lower in spouses of HIV sero-conversion than that in spouses of HIV non-sero conversion (t test: t = 4.77, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIn order to control HIV transmission among general population, we suggested that HIV/AIDS counseling and testing be developed for pre-marital people in the region with high HIV prevalence.

Blotting, Western ; China ; epidemiology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; HIV ; immunology ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; immunology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral ; epidemiology ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the biomechanical differences between the surgery and adjacent segments of intervertebral discs in the lower lumbar spine, which were implanted with Coflex into the segments of L4, and L5S1, respectively.

METHODSThree finite-element models (the model of the intact lower lumbar sacrum,the L4.5 and L5S1 segments implanted by Coflex) were developed, respectively. According to the spinal three-column loading theory, three models were forced by the physiological loads of upright standing, flexion and extension. The stress of the different areas of the disc annulus, the changes of intervertebral dorsal height and the degree of nucleus pulposus pressure were compared and analyzed.

RESULTSCoflex implanted into the L4.5 and L5S1 segments in compression and extension could both decrease the stress of the posterior area of intervertebral disc in the surgery segment, resist the changes of the intervertebral disc dorsal height and reduce the perssure of nucleus pulposus. Furthermore, the stress of the L5S1 segment decreased when Coflex fixed the L4.5 segment in extension. However, when Coflex fixed the L5S1 segment, the stress of L4.5 segment had no significant changes.

CONCLUSIONCoflex fixing the L4,5 and L5S1 segments can effectively decrease the stress of the surgery segmental discs, respectively. Furthermore, Coflex fixing L4,5 segment may play a biomechanical role in reducing the stress of L5S1 segment.

Adult ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Intervertebral Disc ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Stress, Mechanical

BACKGROUNDTertiary hospitals serve as the medical service center within the region and play an important role in the medical and health service system. They are also the key targets of public hospital reform in the new era in China. Through the reform of health system, the public hospital efficiency has changed remarkably. Therefore, this study aimed to provide some advice for efficiency assessment of public hospitals in China by comparing and analyzing the consistency of results obtained by three commonly used methods for examining hospital efficiency, that is, ratio analysis (RA), stochastic frontier analysis (SFA), and data envelopment analysis (DEA).

METHODSThe theoretical basis, operational processes, and the application status of RA, SFA, and DEA were learned through literature analysis. Then, the empirical analysis was conducted based on measured data from 51 tertiary public hospitals in Beijing from 2009 to 2011.

RESULTSThe average values of hospital efficiency calculated by SFA with index screening and principal component analysis (PCA) results and those calculated by DEA with index screening results were relatively stable. The efficiency of specialized hospitals was higher than that of general hospitals and that of traditional Chinese medicine hospitals. The results obtained by SFA with index screening results and the results obtained by SFA with PCA results showed a relatively high correlation (r-value in 2009, 2010, and 2011 were 0.869, 0.753, and 0.842, respectively, P < 0.01). The correlation between results obtained by DEA with index screening results and PCA results and results obtained by other methods showed statistical significance, but the correlation between results obtained by DEA with index screening results and PCA results was lower than that between results obtained by SFA with index screening results and PCA results.

CONCLUSIONSRA is not suitable for multi-index evaluation of hospital efficiency. In the given conditions, SFA is a stable efficiency analysis method. In the evaluation of hospital efficiency, DEA combined with PCA should be adopted with caution due to its poor stability.

China ; Hospitals, Public ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Principal Component Analysis ; Stochastic Processes

OBJECTIVETo research the effect of glaucocalyxin A (GLA) on the level of Th1/Th2 type cytokines in mice.

METHODBy using flow cytometer with CBA software to detect Th1/Th2 type cytokines.

RESULTGLA had insighificant inhibitory effects on Th1 and Th2 cytokines (IL-2, IFN-gamma,TNF-alpha, IL-4 and IL-5) induced by ConA, in which more potential on cytokines from Th1 than those of from Th2 were displayed. However, GLA could produce inhibition on IL-2, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha and acceleration on IL-4 and IL-5.

CONCLUSIONImmunosuppressive effect of GLA is related to the influence the level of Th1/Th2 type cytokines.

Animals ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Diterpenes, Kaurane ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-2 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-5 ; metabolism ; Isodon ; chemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Th1 Cells ; metabolism ; Th2 Cells ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

UNLABELLEDTo evaluate the detection rate of myocardial bridging by 64-slice spiral CT coronary angiography.

METHODSThe data of 3011 patients with suspected coronary artery disease undergoing 64-slice spiral CT coronary angiography were collected and analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSA total of 174 cases (5.8%) with myocardial bridging were detected by 64-slice spiral CT coronary angiography, among which 168 (96.6%) had single foci of involvement and 6 (3.4%) had were multiple foci. Involvement of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was detected in 167 out of the 174 cases (96.0%). The length of the myocardial bridge varied between 5 and 120 mm (mean of 30.5 mm), and the depth of the tunneled artery ranged between 1.3 and 2.8 mm (mean 2.3 mm). Seventy-nine of the cases (45.4%) had uncomplicated myocardial bridging and 95 (54.6%) had myocardial bridging complicated by coronary atherosclerosis.

CONCLUSIONMulti-slice spiral CT coronary angiography is a reliable and noninvasive modality for diagnosis of myocardial bridging to allow direct measurement of the length and depth of the myocardial bridge and detection of concurrent coronary and cardiac lesions.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Coronary Angiography ; methods ; Coronary Artery Disease ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Bridging ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods