To explore the medication rules of herbal prescriptions for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,and analyze the possible drug targets and interactions,in order to explore the mechanisms of the herbs. Randomized controlled trials of herbal prescriptions for treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease were collected from CNKI,Wan Fang,VIP,Sino Med and PubMed databases. The properties,flavors and meridian tropism of herbs were analyzed by using systematic cluster analysis method with SPSS 19. 0 software. Subsequently,the association rules of herbs were analyzed by using Clementine 12. 0 software. Finally,the interactions between targets and relevant signaling pathways were analyzed by Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database(TCMSP),Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins(STRING) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG). In the 88 prescriptions screened out,the commonly used herbs were Salvia miltiorrhiza,Bupleurum chinense,Alisma orientale,and Crataegus pinnatifida,and the potential signaling pathways were PPAR signaling pathway and calcium signaling pathway. The results showed that the main effects of herbal prescriptions were to improve blood flow/clear blood stasis,clear heatiness/dampness,promote digestion and strengthen spleen. And its mechanism of action may be achieved through the regulation of PPAR signaling pathway and calcium signaling pathway.
Data Mining ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Meridians ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; drug therapy ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo study the effectiveness of waist circumference cut-off values in predicting the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and risk factors in adults in China.

METHODSA cross-sectional survey was condcuted in 14 provinces (autonomous region, municipality) in China. A total of 47,325 adults aged⋝20 years were selected by multistage stratified sampling, and questionnaire survey and physical and clinical examination were conducted among them. MetS was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria and modified IDF criteria.

RESULTSThe age-standardized prevalence of MetS was 24.2% (22.1% in men and 25.8% in women) and 19.5% (22.1% in men and 18.0% in women) according to the IDF criteria and modified IDF criteria respectively. The age-standardized prevalence of pre-MetS was 8.1% (8.6% in men and 7.8% in women) according to the modified IDF criteria. The prevalence of MetS was higher in urban residents than rural residents and in northern China residents than in southern China residents. The prevalence of central obesity was about 30% in both men and women according to the ethnicity-specific cut-off values of waist circumference for central obesity (90 cm for men and 85 cm for women). Multivariate regression analysis revealed no significant difference in risk factors between the two MetS definitions.

CONCLUSIONUsing both the modified IDF criteria and ethnicity-specific cut-off values of waist circumference can provide more useful information about the prevalence of MetS in China. Conclusion Using both the modified IDF criteria and ethnicity-specific cut-off values of waist circumference can provide more useful information about the prevalence of MetS in China.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Waist Circumference

Aim To study the influences of miR-203 on ursolic acid (UA ) sensitivity in leukemic K562 cell.Methods In the experimental system,eukaryot-ic expression vector of hsa-miR-203 (PmiR-203 )was transfected into K562 cells using LipofectamineTM 2000.K562 cells were incubated with different con-centration of UA alone or in combination with PmiR-203 .The cell proliferation was analyzed by MTT as-say.The cell apoptosis was measured by double stai-ning with Annexin V and Propidium Iodide.The ex-pression of Bcr/abl protein was detected by Western Blot.Results The miR-203 promoted the sensitivity of UA by up to 1 .55-fold and the IC50 was reduced from 44.3μmol · L-1 to 30.7 μmol · L-1 .The a-mount of apoptotic cells was increased in UA combined with PmiR-203 group (P<0.05).PmiR-203 downreg-ulated the expression of Bcr/abl protein in K562 cells. Conclusion Our results support a substantial role of miR-203 that enhances UA sensitivity in K562 cell and the mechanism appears to be related to the dounregula-tion of Bcr/abl by miR-203 .

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of weekly paclitaxel combined with S-1 or fluorouracil in the first line treatment of advanced gastric carcinoma.

METHODSTwo hundred and forty patients with untreated advanced gastric carcinoma were randomized into two arms, patients in the experimental arm were given paclitaxel and S-1, while those in the control arm received paclitaxel and fluorouracil. The regimen of experimental arm was paclitaxel 60 mg/m(2) by intravenous infusion, day 1, 8, 15; S-1 80 - 120 mg/day given by oral administration, day 1 - 14. The regimen of control arm was fluorouracil 500 mg/m(2) by intravenous infusion continuously, day 1 - 5; CF 20 mg/m(2) by intravenous infusion, day 1 - 5. The regimens in both arms were repeated every 28 days. The efficacy and safety of both arms were assessed.

RESULTSTwo hundred and twenty-eight patients were analyzed in the full analysis set, and 192 patients were analyzed in per-protocol set (experimental arm 100 patients, control arm 92 patients). The overall response rates of experimental and control arms were 50.0% and 28.3% (P = 0.002), and the disease control rates were 82.0% and 70.7% (P = 0.064), respectively. The primary endpoints of experimental arm were non-inferior to that of the control arm. The secondary endpoint of experimental arm in terms of median progression free survival was significantly better than that of control arm (5 months versus 4 months, P = 0.006). The experimental arm had a higher incidence of grade III-IV bone marrow suppression than the control arm, but the incidence of fever in both arms was not significantly different.

CONCLUSIONSOral administration of S-1 is an alternative option of venous infusional fluorouracil. Weekly paclitaxel combined with S-1 is a safe regimen and has a promising efficacy.

Adenocarcinoma ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Diarrhea ; chemically induced ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Combinations ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; chemically induced ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Oxonic Acid ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Prospective Studies ; Remission Induction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Survival Rate ; Tegafur ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects

BACKGROUNDThe nocturnal nondipping and elevated morning blood pressure (BP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) have not yet been well investigated in Chinese patients. This study aimed to describe the BP profile, and to elucidate the relationships between daytime BP and nighttime BP, and between evening BP and morning BP in patients with OSAS.

METHODSTwenty teaching hospital sleep centers in China were organized by the Chinese Medical Association to participate in this study and 2297 patients were recruited between January 2004 and April 2006. BP assessments were made at four time points (daytime, evening, nighttime and morning) and polysomnography (PSG) was performed and subjects were classified into four groups by their apnea-hypopnea index (AHI): control, n = 213 with AHI < 5; mild, n = 420 with AHI ≥ 5 and < 15; moderate, n = 460 with AHI ≥ 15 and < 30; and severe, n = 1204 with AHI ≥ 30. SPSS 11.5 software package was used for statistical analysis and figure drawing.

RESULTSAll the average daytime, nighttime, evening and morning BPs were positively correlated with AHI and negatively correlated with nadir nocturnal oxygen saturation. The ratios of nighttime/daytime and morning/evening average BP were positively correlated with AHI. The ratio of nighttime/daytime systolic BP became a "reversed BP dipping" pattern until the classification reached severe, while the ratio of nighttime/daytime diastolic BP became reversed at moderate. Similarly, the ratio of morning/evening diastolic BP becomes reversed even at mild.

CONCLUSIONSOSAS may result in higher BP levels at all four time points. The ratios of nighttime/daytime and morning/evening BP increase with increased AHI. The increasing of diastolic BP, which is inclined to rise more quickly, is not parallel with increasing systolic BP.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anthropometry ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the effect of different temperature on the susceptibility of Aedes albopictus for transmission of dengue 2 virus.Methods Mosquitoes were orally infected with dengue virus type 2 suspension,then fully blood-engorged mosquitoes were separated and transferred to new cartons and sustained at 18,21,26,31,33℃ and 36℃ with 10％ sucrose.Immunofluorescence assays were used to detect antigen of dengue virus type 2 in the head,salivary gland and thorax-abdomen,and calculated the disseminated infection rate of mosquitoes.Results For mosquitoes held at 18℃,the infection rate of thoraxabdomen was 8％,infection in head and salivary gland were not detected until 25d.Maximum infection rate of thorax-abdomen was attained at 31℃,the highest infection rate of head and salivary gland existed at 33℃,however,the infection rate of mosquitoes at 36℃ was significantly decreased compared with that at 33℃.The lowest disseminated infection rate was zero at 18℃,while the highest disseminated infection rate was 100％ at 36 ℃.Conclusion As the temperature went up,the infection rate showed a tendency of ascending first and descending later.Dengue virus might not be transmitted by Aedes albopictus when temperature was below 18℃.The disseminated infection rate increased gradually with the increase of temperature.