Bipolar disorder(BD)is a serious mood disorder with high prevalence,morbidity and mortality rates. Glycogen synthase kinase-3β(GSK-3β) is a multifunctional serine/threonine protein kinase that is generally located in eukaryotic cells with such functions as the adjustment of the synthe?sis of glycogen metabolism,cell proliferation and differentiation and gene expression. It is involved in multiple signaling pathways and regulates cell signaling proteins,structural proteins and transcription factors through phosphorylation,affecting the survival of the neurons and plasticity. According to gene poly?morphism and clinical studies,GSK-3β may be associated with BD. As a GSK-3β inhibitor,lithium is an effective BD therapeutic drug,and the small molecule inhibitor targeting GSK-3βis also a hotspot of BD treatment. GSK-3βmay be a potential target in the treatment of BD.

Mean hemoglobin (Hb) concentration of about 3 500 subjects derived from 17 studies of Himalayan highlanders (Tibetans, Sherpas, and Ladakhis) was compared with lowlanders (Chinese Han, Indian Tamils) lived in the Himalayas, and European climbers during Everest expeditions as well as Andean natives. The results found that Hb concentration in Himalayan highlanders was systemically lower than those reported for Andean natives and lowland immigrants. These comparative data demonstrated that a healthy native population may successfully reside at high altitude without a significant elevation in Hb, and the lower Hb levels of Himalayan highlanders than those of migrated lowlanders and Andean natives are an example of favourable adaptation over the generations. In addition, excessive polycythemia has frequently been used as a marker of chronic mountain sickness (CMS). Altitude populations who have a higher Hb concentration also have a higher incidence of CMS. The low Hb in Himalayans suggested as showing adaptation over many generations in Tibetan stock. Recent work in Tibet, suggested that Tibetans there may have adapted to high altitude as a result of evolutionary pressure selecting for genes which give an advantage at altitude. All of the population genomic and statistical analysis indicated that EPAS1 and EGLN1 are mostly likely responsible for high altitude adaptation and closely related to low Hb concentration in Tibetans. These data supported the hypothesis that Himalayan highlanders have evolved a genetically different erythropoietic response to chronic hypoxia by virtue of their much longer exposure to high altitude.
Adaptation, Physiological ; Altitude ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Hemoglobins ; genetics ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Proline Dioxygenases ; genetics ; Tibet

Aged ; Female ; Hernia, Obturator ; complications ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

Objective To outline the research fronts of ten major sub-specialties in internal medicine.Methods Based on their impact factor scores and the proportion of the journals of 10 subspecialties (endocrinology & metabolism,cardiac & cardiovascular systems,hematology,infectious diseases,nephrology,gastroenterology & hepatology,respiratory system,rheumatology,critical care medicine,clinical neurology) in Journal Citation Report (JCR),and careful consulation of expert clinicians,we identified 50 journals.Their bibliographic records (including references) published in 2011 were downloaded,and the frequency of the references (citations) in each sub-specialty was counted and the highly cited records were extracted.We performed a clustering analysis according to the co-cited times among any pairs of the highly cited records.To tag each cluster of highly cited records,we browsed the titles and abstracts of all highly cited records in the same cluster,and concluded the main topics of each cluster.Finally,we extracted the current published papers devoted to particular cluster by some clustering analysis indicators.The clusters of highly cited records were considered as the intelligence base,and the main topics in current papers which citing these highly cited papers were considered as research fronts.Results Totally 50 journals on 10 sub-specialties in internal medicine were identified.A total of 202 highly cited papers,38 clusters (knowledge bases),and 152 corresponding current citing papers presenting the research fronts were selected.Conclusions We confirm and present research fronts in 10 major sub-specialties of internal medicine.This study provides a synchronic structure of contemporary research activities in internal medicine sub-specialties.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of stone needle therapy plus medication in treating early-mid stage senile knee osteoarthritis (KOA).Method Seventy elderly patients with early-mid stage KOA were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 35 cases each. The control group was intervened by oral administration of Meloxicam tablets, while the treatment group was intervened by stone needle therapy based on the medication. The two groups were treated 5 times a week, for successive 3 weeks. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Lysholm Knee Scoring (LKS) were observed before and after the treatment, and the clinical efficacies of the two groups were also compared. Result The total effective rate was 94.3％ in the treatment group versus 80.0％ in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). After the treatment, the VAS and LKS scores were significantly changed in both groups (P<0.05). The VAS and LKS scores of the treatment group were significantly different from those of the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion Stone needle therapy plus medication is an effective method in treating early-mid stage senile KOA.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of wheat-sized moxibustion in assisting the treatment of mild—to-moderate persistent chronic bronchial asthma in the elderly with Salmeterol xinafoate and fluticasone propionate aerosol. Method Eighty-four old patients with mild—to-moderate persistent chronic bronchial asthma were randomized into an observation group and a control group by using the random number table, 42 each. The control group was given Salmeterol xinafoate and fluticasone propionate aerosol, 1 inhalation each time, twice a day;the observation group was additionally given wheat-sized moxibustion by selecting Pishu (BL20), Feishu (BL13) and Geshu (BL17), twice a week. The two groups were both treated for 2 months. Before and after the intervention, Asthma Control Test (ACT), Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), and pulmonary function parameters [peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and forced vital capacity (FVC)] were observed, and the clinical efficacies were compared. Result The total effective rate was 92.9% in the observation group versus 78.6% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); the ACT and AQLQ scores, as well as PEF, FEV1 and FVC were significantly increased after the intervention in both groups (P<0.05); after the treatment, the improvement in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Wheat-sized moxibustion is effective in assisting the treatment of mild-to-moderate persistent chronic bronchial asthma in the elderly with Salmeterol xinafoate and fluticasone propionate aerosol. It can effectively controlasthma and enhance the quality of life.

Animals ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; metabolism ; Ischemia ; metabolism ; Male ; Molecular Chaperones ; metabolism ; Pressure Ulcer ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; blood supply

The authors designed to separate, purify and determine the monosaccharide composition of the polysaccharide from Cordyceps militaris, and study its effect on reverse cholesterol transport in vivo by isotope tracing assay. Polysaccharides were separate and purify by ion exchange column Q-sepharose Fast Flow and size exclusion column Sephacryl S200HR; the molecular weight and monosaccharide composition of the polysaccharides were determined by high performance gel permeation chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography coming with pre-column derivation, respectively. Finally, three purified polysaccharides CMBW1, CMBW2 and CMYW1 were obtained, their total carbohydrate contents were 87%, 89%, 95%, respectively; their protein contents were 6.5%, 1.3%, 2.8%, respectively; their molecular weights were 772.1, 20.9, 13.2 kDa, respectively; CMBW1 was composed of mannose, glucosamine, rhamnose, glucuronic acid, glucose, galactose and arabinose with a molar ratio of 7.25: 0.17: 1.29: 0.23: 6.30: 11.08: 0.79; CMBW2 was composed of mannose, glucosamine, galactose and arabinose with a molar ratio of 2.40: 0.16: 2.92: 0.24; CMYW1 was composed of mannose, glucosamine, glucuronic acid and glucose with a molar ratio of 0.59: 0.57: 0.45: 25.61. Polysaccharide at 50 mg x kg(-1) could significantly improve the transport of 3H- cholesterol to blood and excretion from feces. All of the three purified polysaccharides CMBW1, CMBW2 and CMYW1 were heteropolysaccharide; and they could improve reverse cholesterol transport in vivo, the underlying mechanisms are being studied.
Animals ; Biological Transport ; drug effects ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; instrumentation ; methods ; Cordyceps ; chemistry ; Mice ; Monosaccharides ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Tritium

OBJECTIVE Licorice is used throughout the world as a traditional herbal remedy. Ac-cording to Chinese traditional medicine licorice alone can be used to treat inflammation.Although there have been some studies investigated the anti-inflammatory ingredients of licorice, but for the potency of flavonoid glycoside and their aglycones on inflammation are not evaluated.This study was designed to assess the contributions of licorice flavonoid glycosides and their aglycons to its anti-inflammatory and hypnotic effects. METHODS For the flavonoid aglycone's enrichment, the extract of licorice (EL) was fermented in submerged culture of the edible fungus Grifola frondosa HB0071 mycelia which can produce β-glucosidase and catalyze the flavonoid glycosides to aglycones.EL and fermented extract of licorice (FEL) were used in this study. The anti-inflammation test was carried out in arachidonic acid (AA)-induced ear edema model and the hypnotic test was performed by using electroencephalogram (EEG)analysis method in normal freely moving SD rats.The chemicals constituents were analyzed by HPLC.RESULTS During fermentation,the falvonoid glycosides of licorice were hydrolyzed by the time process.Along with fermentation time,the concentration of the major flavonoid glycosides,liquiritin and isoliquiritin were decreased obviously, and simultaneously their aglycons, liquiritigenin and isoliquiriti-genin were remarkably increased in FEL.Moreover,the content of another major constituent glycyrrhi-zic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid were not changed after the fermentation. In AA-induced mice ear ede-ma test,after topical application,FEL(effective dose range:5-20 μg·ear-1)showed more potent inhibito-ry activity than EL(effective dose range:25-100 μg·ear-1).On the other hand,oral administration of EL and FEL exhibited the same hypnotic potency and both enhanced the total sleep time including rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM sleep time. CONCLUSION These results suggested that the enrichment of flavonoid aglycons such as liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin enhanced the anti-inflam-matory potency of licorice extract,and this potentiation has nothing to do with glycyrrhizic acid or glycyr-rhetinic acid.In addition,enrichment of flavonoid aglycones did not alter the hypnotic effect of licorice.

Objective To investigate the current status about personal mastery in paediatric nurses in a tertiary hospital in Changchun and to analyse the influencing factors.Methods A total of 340 paediatric nurses in the hospital were enrolled in the investigation with the methods of general data questionnaire,personal mastery scale(PMS),nurses'perceived professional benefits scale(NPPBS)and practice environment scale(PES).Results 321 paediatric nurses complete the research.The total score of personal mastery among the paediatric nurses was found at(27.63±1.99)and was at a middle-high level.Multiple linear regression analysis showed the overall independent factors that affected the overall personal mastery of the paediatric nurses included type of job contract,average monthly income,working experience,number of night shifts per month,the perceived professional benefits and practice environment of the nurses(P<0.05).Conclusion Personal mastery among the paediatric nurses is at a middle-high level.Nursing managers should take targeted and pertinent measures to the identified influencing factors in order to improve the personal mastery,relieve work related pressures,reduce job burnout,enhance professional identity and thereby promote the stability and development the workforce in paediatric nursing.